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From Moses to Abraham Lincoln the quality that every leader must possess is the ability to make his vision one that is shared by the masses. Brilliant ideas, penetrating analysis, and undefeatable determination are all important, but if you cannot make your goals the same as the goals of the population you cannot be successful.

This morning we met the mayor of the Hevel Eilot region, Udi Gat. He explained to us the vision that UJA Federation of Greater Toronto had worked so diligently with him to create regarding the Hevel Eilot region. In his words the goal is to make Hevel Eilot into “the silicon valley of renewable energy”. Why and how the region is fit for this goal is a long explanation - some of which was explained to us, and much of which was beyond the scope of our short visit, but, nevertheless, the project was carefully measured out and planned.

In the comfortable air conditioned office of the mayor, the plans seemed detailed and well thought out, and the targets were clear. Mr. Gat was clearly excited about the opportunities for the region and there was obviously a lot of time spent designing strategies to reach their goals. We were introduced to those in charge of managing the Renewable Energy project for the city, and they showed us step by step how they planned to proceed, what technology they were going to use and so on.

However, what really made me believe in the potential for this project to succeed was a chance comment made by a resident of Kibutz Keturah. While talking to one of the managers of ‘Keren Kolot’, a pluralistic Jewish learning centre located on Kibbutz Keturah, we asked her why she decided to move from New Jersey to a kibbutz in the Negev? She told us how she moved as an ideological young adult believing in her capacity to make a difference in the land of Israel. When asked if she felt she had lived out her vision she responded with a smile. “I haven’t personally changed the world, but I am part of a community that has done a lot; now we are starting this solar energy project, and soon we, from this small kibbutz in the Negev, could be changing the nature of energy supply in Israel!”

The excitement and pride in her eyes when talking about this energy project made the meetings we had had in the morning that much more meaningful. The vision that the leadership of Hevel-Eilot together with the leadership of UJA’s partnership in Eilat-Eilot had created for the region has taken hold. It is no longer just a dream drafted in a cold office building. It has become the vision of the people in the sun soaked kibbutzim of the Southern Aravah. Now that the goal is one that is shared by all the reality is so much closer.

On the day that we mourn the anniversary of the breach in the walls of Jerusalem so many years ago, I began to see firsthand the plans for the rebuilding and rejuvenation of our ancient homeland.