On Second Thought Ezra

Tag: leadership

  • Pip and the Two Places He Loved

    Pip and the Two Places He Loved

    Pip the squirrel loves two very different places — one busy, one quiet — and wonders if it’s possible to belong to both. Through summer storms, fireflies, and thoughtful moments, Pip learns that loving more than one home doesn’t divide the heart… it helps it grow.

  • Leadership Lessons from the Mishnah: Part I

    Leadership Lessons from the Mishnah: Part I

    The Mishnah isn’t just ancient law — it’s a leadership manual hiding in plain sight. In the very first chapter of Tractate Berakhot, the rabbis wrestle with questions that sound strikingly modern: When should you start a project? How do you set deadlines? What happens when instructions conflict? In Part I of this new series,…

  • On Belonging Without Agreement

    On Belonging Without Agreement

    Can we belong where we’re not always aligned? A part of the ‘Not Quite What You Meant‘ series By: Ezra Nadav There’s a peculiar pressure in modern community life, a pressure not just to get along, but to agree. To belong, it seems, one must often speak the same language of belief, adopt the same…

  • The Kindness You Don’t Remember Giving

    The Kindness You Don’t Remember Giving

    You may forget it. They may not. A part of the ‘On Second Though’ series By: Ezra Nadav When I was not yet twelve, I watched my grandfather do something I’ve never forgotten. We were stopped at a McDonald’s just outside of Waco, Texas, one of those roadside moments that usually blends into the background…

  • Safe Spaces vs. Courageous Spaces: When Comfort Becomes the Opposite of Inclusion

    Safe Spaces vs. Courageous Spaces: When Comfort Becomes the Opposite of Inclusion

    Part of the ‘Not Quite What You Meant’ series By: Ezra Nadav “This is a safe space.” It’s a phrase that now comes standard with everything from workplace trainings to university classrooms and community groups. A warm-sounding promise. A shield against judgment. A balm for anxiety. But more and more, I find myself asking: safe…