• Home
  • About
    • About
    • Policies
  • Submissions
    • Op-eds
    • News / Announcements
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

eJewish Philanthropy

Your Jewish Philanthropy Resource

  • News Bits
  • Jewish Education
  • Readers Forum
  • Research
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Readers Forum / The Move to the Apple Remote, Part 1

The Move to the Apple Remote, Part 1

June 17, 2015 By eJP

RemotesBy Rabbi Adam Grossman

When I began as the new CEO of the University of Florida (UF) Hillel almost a year ago, on July 7, 2014 to be exact, the entire team was brand new. In setting up to begin this new position, a conscious decision was made to start from scratch. A staff of eight was overhauled to an entire new team of only four. On the first day, the team met each other for the first time. We began with a weeklong lockdown (starting at 9 a.m. and ending 11 p.m. each day except Friday) to reimagine the impact UF Hillel could make on students and communities. To begin, I laid down these two remote controls on the table and asked how do these reflect who we are and who we what we want to be:

On the left is the Apple TV remote. With three simple buttons, one can do almost anything within the limits of home entertainment. Movies, television shows, and sports can be easily accessed while volume levels, pause, fast-forward, rewind, and play functions can, without difficulty, be adjusted from the comforts of our homes. Without the need for directions or complex diagrams, its simplicity has made Apple one of the most successful and followed companies of our time.

Next to this ingenious tool is a cable remote. While similar to the Apple product in overall purpose, there are major differences. This particular one has over 40 separate buttons, most of which are never used. Included with the controller are directions to program it and to explain each button’s function. Just in case one has any difficulty with these instructions or the remote’s functionality, there is a cable channel dedicated to answering frequently asked questions.

How do these two seemingly random household items relate to UF Hillel or for that matter Jewish organizations as a whole? Most Jewish organizations are a cable remote. We function and have value, yet we spread ourselves out over too many responsibilities. This division of focus to many, mostly non-essential, “buttons,” makes our purpose complex and often misunderstood. It causes us to lose sight of our target market, to move away from our organizational strengths, and to spend time on unnecessary missions. Thus, our role is to determine our three primary “buttons” in order to become the Apple remote and with it thrive.

The idea to simplify in order to maximize is not original to Apple. In fact, Jewish literature showcases the simplicity of three elements in many instances. Three “buttons” guide a child at a Brit/Bat ceremony to enter into Torah, the wedding canopy, and deeds of loving-kindness. During the Unetaneh Tokef at the High Holy Days, we are reminded that repentance, prayer, and righteousness prevent severe decree. And found within the Pirkei Avot, The Ethics of our Fathers, there are many three-button prompts to engage with Jewish living such as Rabbi Shimon, the son of Gamliel, expressing that the world is supporting by law, truth, and peace.

As we work to build more sustainable Jewish communities by connecting Jews to Judaism, it is crucial for organizations to find their three “buttons.” By focusing on the three things we do well, Jewish organizations can eliminate the redundancies, complexities, and challenges that affect the inspiration of Jews with Jewish living, enhance the connection of Jews to Israel, and extend the prosperity of Jewish communities well beyond tomorrow.

Rabbi Adam Grossman is the CEO of the University of Florida Hillel, who is a past Slingshot Guide Award recipient and part of Clal’s Rabbis Without Borders network.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Readers Forum Tagged With: Hillel International

Click here to Email This Post Email This Post to friends or colleagues!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ron Wegsman says

    June 17, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    My first reactions when I started to read this were (1) Those poor people who lost their jobs and (2) I guess the people who were retained don’t have families, or were willing and able to ignore them for a week.

  2. Caroline says

    June 17, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    What happened to those how lost their jobs

  3. Sarah Gross says

    June 18, 2015 at 12:52 am

    I think this simplification is great. Too often non-profits, with limited resources and limited staff, try to be everything to everyone. Ultimately they are spreading themselves too thin and setting themselves up to fail. We need to give ourselves permission to say no and focus and what we do best.

  4. Adam Grossman says

    June 18, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    I appreciate the comments. Reorganization is never easy. Each individual on the previous staff was gainfully employed by another organization prior to the July 7, 2014, start date of the new team. As for the comment on work/home balance, I would encourage calling 352.372.2900, press any option in order to speak with one of the UF Hillel team members, and ask them about the organizational beliefs and actions taken in relation to work/home balance.

Primary Sidebar

Join The Conversation

What's the best way to follow important issues affecting the Jewish philanthropic world? Our Daily Update keeps you on top of the latest news, trends and opinions shaping the landscape, providing an invaluable source for inspiration and learning.
Sign Up Now
For Email Marketing you can trust.

Continue The Conversation

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Jane sherman on At 90 years, The Jewish Agency for Israel is as Relevant Today as it’s Ever Been
  • Arnold J Draiman on Where Should We Go?
  • Joseph T Farkasdi on Rabbinic Pluralism
  • Sandra Lilienthal on Where Should We Go?
  • Janel Margaretta on Where Should We Go?

Most Popular Recent Posts

  • Creation of National Organization Mobilizing Jews to Confront the Climate Crisis
    Dayenu!
  • Seeking Legacy Organizations for Qualified Jewish Professionals
  • Ally Is A Verb
  • The Jewish Agency and All of Us
  • The Rabbinic Intrapreneur

Categories

The Way Back Machine

Footer

What We Do

eJewish Philanthropy highlights news, resources and thought pieces on issues facing our Jewish philanthropic world in order to create dialogue and advance the conversation. Learn more.

Top 40 Philanthropy Blogs and Websites to Follow in 2019

Copyright © 2019 · eJewish Philanthropy · All Rights Reserved