In the current academic year, 36 fellows are studying in the Mandel School for Educational Leadership and will engage in in-depth study, gain different perspectives, and spearhead change.

The first week of the academic year at the Mandel Leadership Institute began with an opening session that included the president of the Mandel Foundation–Israel, Dr. Varda Shiffer, and the Director of the Mandel Institute, Dr. Eli Gottlieb, who greeted the new and returning fellows.

The Director of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership, Ms. Adi Nir-Sagi, spoke about the situation in Israel in light of the events of the past summer that raised many thought-provoking issues about the essence of leadership: “It is essential that we effect change and exercise vigilance based on responsibility and a social commitment to action.” She noted that now, in the waning days of summer 2011, we face a situation full of educational and social challenges, indicating the need for educational and social leadership. Nir-Sagi addressed the fellows: “You, who aspire to lead educational and social institutions, need to forge solidarity among yourselves as individuals who coalesce to form groups. Such groups foster diversity, social sensitivity, concessions to others, and mutual respect.”

Rectifying the Current Situation
The Mandel Leadership Institute also hosted a session with retired Supreme Court Justice Dalia Dorner. Her address related to the recent developments in the social arena and the attempt to find additional tools to introduce some order into the complex situation today. Justice Dorner opened her remarks with a reference to Israel’s identity and explained how its laws are influenced by the Declaration of Independence. Accordingly, the laws express both of the Declaration's core elements, which are interwoven and complementary—a Jewish and democratic state—and aim at creating the proper balance and finding suitable solutions to dilemmas and conflicts.

The Declaration of Independence is the foundation of the state’s identity. It is an exemplary document that specifies what the state should be. When reality does not coincide with the ideal we need to aspire to rectify it in light of the Declaration.

As for the State’s Jewish and democratic character, Justice Dorner emphasized that the purpose of the State of Israel is to serve as a national homeland for the Jewish people; the Law of Return is an essential expression of this goal. The State’s democratic aspect is manifested in the rule of the majority in regular elections; in a political arena that prevents the tyranny of the majority; and in the State’s commitment to treat equally all of its citizens without regard to religion, race, or gender, and to safeguard the rights of minorities. This obligation towards minorities is based in Scripture: “There shall be one law for you, stranger and resident alike” (Leviticus 24:22). Noting further the moral lesson entailed by the Jews’ historical experience, she quoted another verse: “You shall not oppress a stranger for you know the heart of a stranger, as you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9).

Justice Dorner expressed her concern about the weakness of the Basic Laws of Israel, which can be passed by a bare Knesset majority. This makes it too easy for the Knesset to amend Basic Laws in a way that would weaken the judicial branch and undermine the appropriate balance between the legislature and executive, on the one hand, and the judicial branch, which sets limits on governmental power, on the other.

The complex situation in Israel was spoken about by both Justice Dorner and Ms. Adi Nir-Sagi, who raised the need for solidarity in light of the recent events in Israel. The new and returning fellows of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership will learn to analyze and deal with complex educational and social dilemmas and issues and will acquire a range of tools to cope with them. During their studies, they will also learn how to view situations from various angles and will gain a perspective which differs from their current one. Openness and flexibility of thought about certain situations will also help them be flexible when handling various issues in practice.

Adi Nir-Sagi summed up the learning experience at Mandel: “We are a place of learning—the home of exacting and probing study. The learning process requires that each of you be responsible, diligent, committed, and willing to develop. We will help the process along with new knowledge and novel thinking.”