Lay leaders are integral to the functioning of Jewish Tidewater. With multiple synagogues, day schools, and various agencies meeting myriad needs of the community, Jewish Tidewater’s lay leadership helps steer the missions and define the goals of each organization, as well as navigate challenges, make decisions, and build consensus. In this special Legal section, several area Jewish attorneys share how their education and professional experience have guided their service as lay leaders. They also share examples of how that legal expertise has assisted them in directing the organization they were/are leading.
Jeffrey Brooke
Poole Brooke Plumlee PC
Area of Legal expertise: General Civil Litigation
Former president of B’nai Israel Congregation (seven years).
Law school and the practice of law teach you to take an orderly and logical approach to matters. There is a temptation when the fur is flying at a trial (for example) or in a board meeting to follow the loudest voices and bend to popular will. But that can be a mistake. Sometimes a deep breath and consulting with your key allies is needed before plunging ahead. Once consensus occurs, it’s also important to document decisions and to act on them. (This is called common sense in the real world and “contract law” by attorneys).
In my last year as president, we were able to entertain bids for and replace the HVAC and roof at B’nai. We also went through a long process to figure out our new rabbinic needs and recruited and hired Rabbi Shlomo Eisenberg. Both took consensus building, buy-in and a healthy dose of patience. It is quite handy for an organization to have an attorney on board to dot the “I’s” and cross the T’s” without having to incur legal fees all the time. Attorneys have an ethical and halachic requirement to give back to the community—the requirement to perform “pro bono” work – so doing this kind of work is a ‘win-win.’ Of course, it was my honor to serve in the position for so long and to see how we were able to thrive when everyone pulled together.
David A. Cardon
Cardon Law
Area of legal expertise: Personal
Injury, Traffic & Criminal Defense
Past president of Strelitz International Academy Board of Trustees and current vice-president of Congregation Beth El Board of Trustees.
Law school and the practice of law teach you to take an orderly and logical approach to matters. There is a temptation when the fur is flying at a trial (for example) or in a board meeting to follow the loudest voices and bend to popular will. But that can be a mistake. Sometimes a deep breath and consulting with your key allies is needed before plunging ahead. Once consensus occurs, it’s also important to document decisions and to act on them. (This is called common sense in the real world and “contract law” by attorneys).
In my last year as president, we were able to entertain bids for and replace the HVAC and roof at B’nai. We also went through a long process to figure out our new rabbinic needs and recruited and hired Rabbi Shlomo Eisenberg. Both took consensus building, buy-in and a healthy dose of patience. It is quite handy for an organization to have an attorney on board to dot the “I’s” and cross the T’s” without having to incur legal fees all the time. Attorneys have an ethical and halachic requirement to give back to the community—the requirement to perform “pro bono” work – so doing this kind of work is a ‘win-win.’ Of course, it was my honor to serve in the position for so long and to see how we were able to thrive when everyone pulled together.
Mona Flax
Mona Schapiro Flax, PC
Area of legal expertise: Family Law
Chair of the Women’s Philanthropy Division (formerly Women’s Cabinet) and United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s president -elect.
I am a litigator. I think this and my Virginia State Bar activities enhanced my leadership skills.
A good lawyer and litigator must also be a good negotiator. Thus, I have learned to listen. As chair of the Women’s Philanthropy Division, these skills enabled me to listen and hear varying points of view. I was able to use this ability in directing the division and also try to effect change.
Burle Stromberg
Portsmouth City Attorney’s Office
Area of legal expertise: Municipal Law, Personal Injury, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Law.
Former president of Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, now known as Strelitz International Academy.
My legal background gave me a structure by which to be a lay leader. I had a law professor who told us in our very first class that we would analyze practically everything in life based on our legal training and he was right.
It helped me assist Gomley Chesed Synagogue in repurposing an endowment and in transferring ownership of the Gomley Chesed Cemetery to United Jewish Federation of Tidewater for continued operation and maintenance. My legal expertise also helped in drafting and interpreting bylaws.
Laura Gross
Kaufman & Canoles
Area of expertise: Employment Law
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Campaign chair, and former UJFT Women’s Philanthropy chair, Simon Family JCC president, UJFT president, Sandler Family Campus Committee chair.
Law school taught me to think critically and emphasized the necessity to look at both sides of an argument. As a lawyer and a lay leader, I listen before speaking; in depositions, if you’re thinking about the next question, you’re not hearing what is being said.
During COVID, we needed to figure out what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.