For Heaven's Sake Between Trauma and Torah: Jewish Leadership after October 7
Aug 20, 2025
Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, discusses leading Jewish communities through crises following the trauma of October 7. He explores the emotional complexities faced by leaders, the challenges of balancing personal feelings with professional responsibilities, and the vital role of education in fostering hope. The conversation also touches on North American Jews' intricate relationship with Israel, advocating for an integrated understanding of identity during turbulent times.
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Choosing To Be Okay
- Donniel Hartman describes living amid trauma as a decision to remain functional despite deep feelings.
- He argues leaders must restrain despair so they can sustain institutions and public teaching.
Raised To Hold Steady
- Donniel Hartman recounts being raised to ‘‘be okay’’ and to carry on despite being punched and sleepless.
- He says that duty to teach and speak gives him no luxury to collapse into despair.
Leadership Beyond Stoic Masks
- Yehuda Kurtzer questions the norm that leaders must always appear fine to support others pastorally.
- He suggests authentic shared suffering can be a form of pastoral presence, not just detachment.