Faithfully Occupied with the Public Need

Publication Date: January 1995

Publisher: Jewish Communal Service Association of North America

Author(s): David J. Schnall

Research Area: Culture and religion; Social conditions

Keywords: American Jews; Communal Organization; Religion

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The Talmud and later commentaries devote much discussion to the issues of propriety, competence, and discretion in communal service. Community service is considered a sacred commission to which job security, tenure, and the protection of office are natural concomitants. Yet, because of the trust with which they are ordained, communal employees must be held to higher standards of productivity and competence. They are particularly enjoined to keep confidential the information to which they may have access. Modern conflicts in community management have antecedents in many different Jewish communities over a period of 2,000 years.