Emily Miles

ED 737 - Leadership and Change

Dr. DeMoss
December 5th, 2016

Leader interview with Shmuel Wolkenfeld

There are many leaders alive today who deserve some recognition. One of those

leaders happens to be a servant hearted Rabbi for a local Messianic Congregation. I met this

Rabbi this summer and have been continually impressed by his humble, yet energetic

leadership style. He graciously accepted my interview request and provided insightful responses

to all of the questions. The interview taught me many things, not only about leadership, but also

about being a believer in Yeshua (Jesus). In this reflection, I want share what I have learned

from Rabbi Shmuel Wolkenfeld regarding leadership and living a life submitted to God.

The first item discussed in the interview was the driving factor behind Shmuel becoming

a Rabbi. Having grown up in the turbulent 1960s and coming to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) later in

the decade, Shmuel wrote that, When I came to faith in Yeshua I just didn't have any other

purpose in life than to change the world for him. This statement is very simple, and yet very

profound. By making the world a better place for the Messiah, Shmuel was stepping into a

leadership role. This step in leading the way is powerful, especially when you are in a leadership

role regarding matters of eternity.

Along the same line, I asked Rabbi Wolkenfeld how he sets the example for the

members of his congregation. He responded with, My own walk with Adoni is crucial to what I

can do for the congregation. So, my personal time of prayer and Bible reading and hearing

daily from G-d is the MOST important thing I can go to model life for the congregation. How

important it is to truly model the way! In every life situation, I hope lead others by the way I

respond to daily situations.This includes how I respond to my students or fellow adults. I am

challenged by Rabbis statement because it reminds me to walk humbly before God and man.
Essentially, leading the way in humility is far more rewarding than leading the way with a prideful

spirit.

Next I asked Shmuel about his strengths and weaknesses. In response to this question,

Shmuel mentioned that he has the gift of teaching and compassion. The gift of teaching is

clearly evident during Sabbath service where he often explain complex concepts in an

understandable and humorous way. The weekly messages also taught me how important it is

for a leader to allow their constituents to get to know them. For me, this means that I

communicate with my students and parents in an honest, and direct way. If they grow to love

and admire me, then I will have earned their trust and made strides in building a solid teacher-

student relationship.

When it comes to weaknesses, Rabbi mentioned that he likes to say yes more than he

says no. What this taught me was that it is very important for everyone, not just leaders, to have

boundaries. A few weeks ago, Rabbi humbly presented a message about building margin into

our busy schedules. By presenting this message, he modeled the way and challenged all of us,

himself included, to examine our lives and look for places that need more margin. I was very

much aware of my need to establish boundaries in my classroom and in every area of life. My

students need to know where they stand with me, as do my friends and family. Margins and

boundaries are important in being a leader; without them, I would not be able to enjoy teaching

and my students would not know what I expect of them.

When it comes to mentors, all leaders have or had someone that they look to for

inspiration and guidance. Rabbi Wolkenfeld is no exception. He wrote that, while attending Bible

College, he was mentored by an older gentlemen whom he described as being a servant

hearted guy. What a great role model to have! I can truly see that the servant hearted character

quality was passed down and is alive and well in my Rabbi. Additionally, Shmuel commented

that he was mentored through the writings of John Wesley as a young believer. After reading

this statement, I was happily surprised to see how Wesley could mentor readers hundreds of
years after his death. It is very important to be a life long learner and reader. As a teacher, I

wont stop reading and learning and I hope to always be reading and learning from men and

women who have paved the way.

As as a leader, I am always curious about what other leaders identify as important

character qualities. When asked about this, Rabbi said that, Integrity, humility, joy, vulnerability,

prayerfulness are some of the top qualities. At first glance, I would not have thought that joy

would have made the list of desired leadership traits. Fortunately, I was able to see that Rabbi

demonstrate joy and enthusiasm on a daily basis. In fact, the members at Or Haolam have

adapted his enthusiasm and have started to respond in joy while out in the community.

Finally, A leader is always reflecting and altering various elements to be more effective.

This takes humility and patience. When asked to identify one lesson he has learned over the

years, Rabbi humorously responded with, One thing? That I've never arrived. Always a

servant, always growing, learning, subject to correction, change growth. It is this humility that

has cause me to deeply respect Shmuel Wolkenfeld. He is very clear that he is never done

growing, and he also teaches that we, his congregation, will never be done growing and

learning. That message is something that I greatly appreciate and hope to instill in my students

as well.

As the Rabbi of Or Haolam, Shmuel Wolkenfeld is a great example of a leader who is

humble yet joyful, servant hearted, forward thinking, and always leading by example. He

exemplifies the meekness needed for a leader to truly guide the people he is shepherding. Like

the Messiah, Shmuel has shown me the importance of boundaries, reflection, close relationship

with God, and the importance of service. During my short time at Or Haolam Messianic

Congregation, I have been deeply touched by Shmuels leadership and will always be thankful

to him for his example of humble servitude.

Email Interview Transcript with Shmuel Wolkenfeld

1. How did you decide to become a Rabbi? What was a pivotal moment?
I attached two docs that have my personal faith testimony and history. Suffice to add to those

that in my searching for truth in my youth I could only consider myself as a rebel without a

cause. When I came to faith in Yeshua I just didn't have any other purpose in life than to

change the world for him. There is a verse in 1 Cor to stay in the calling in which you are called,

and in that I found my life validation.

2. How do you set an example for the congregation and the community?

My own walk with Adoni is crucial to what I can do for the congregation. So, my personal time

of prayer and Bible reading and hearing daily from G-d is the MOST important thing I can go to

model life for the congregation.

3. What are your strengths as a leader?

I am told I have the gift mix of compassion and teaching. I love to clarify and explain complex

things, and to lift people up from their sins and problems, with the help of the Ruakh.

4. Have you had or do you have a mentor? What impact did/do they have on your life and leadership?

There was an older student at Bible College who what a mentor to me. He was a giving,

servant hearted guy. I made a pretty intense study of John Wesley in my first years as a

believer, and "he being dead still spoke" as a mentor to me through his books.

5. What are the top five character qualities that you admire in a leader?

Integrity, humility, joy, vulnerability, prayerfulness are some of the top qualities.
 6. What is your personal vision statement? How has that impacted your leadership at OrHaolam

I believe in the primacy of calling Jewish people, and those of all Nations, to their covenantal

identity in Messiah. That informs the congregational passion. At least, I hope so. See

http://www.orhaolam.com/uploads/Congregational_Vision_and_Concept.pdf

7. How have you maintained motivation to keep walking with Adoni during setbacks or times of difficulty? (This

could be with an individual or with the whole congregation)

My personal prayer and Bible times are what has kept me going in times of difficulty. All kinds of

difficulties.

8. What key elements are involved in building a thriving congregation such as OrHaolam? (Basically, how do

you start a congregation and what is involved in growing it)

Love for each other, joy with each other, the Presence of G-d in Messiah with each other.

9. What is the most difficult part of being a Rabbi?

People! That is also the best part! But when people don't get along, and leave their marriages,

or leave their parents and family calling, or leave the congregation over some insoluble

grievance, that abandonment is the greatest killer.

10. What would you say is your biggest weakness?

I am a yes person. I try to do everything. Fix everything. I guess I need more margin! Then

again, I do have my Mondays, and my workout at the J.

11. When conflict arises, how do you go about resolving it?

I'm a firm believer in Mt 18.15 in the spirit of Gal 6.1. So, we have meetings and discussions to

solve conflict. It usually works, but not always.

12. How do you delegate the responsibilities of leading the congregation?

Prayerfully find people gifted and ask them to pray about a responsibility. My wife is really good

at such recruiting. The great test of leadership is servanthood. Those who are faithful to serve

in the least, take out the trash as needed, etc., they are the Messiah like servant-leaders.

13. When it comes to communicating a shared vision-- how do you accomplish this outside of directly stating

the vision statement of OrHaolam

We try to have the vision, in some form, in all our documents and public material: website,

lighted sign on 95th St., etc.

14. As the Rabbi, how do you model the way? (i.e. encouraging individuals/group to continue to walk closely

with Hashem).

Lots of personal contact. It's only partly in jest that I say that I eat lunch for a living.

15. What role does leadership play in your position as Rabbi?

Servanthood and vision impartation are the ways to lead, but then there is watching what might

go wrong, and NEVER letting anyone get the blame for a failed projects, except myself. As

Harry Truman said, "The buck stops here." If something goes wrong, and I have to explain it to

the public, I take full responsibility for it.

16. As the Rabbi, what is one thing that you have learned over the years of your time as leader of OrHaolam?
One thing??? That I've never arrived. Always a servant, always growing, learning, subject to

correction, change growth.