From the Editor's Desk

The theme at the center of this, the 19th issue of Kaveret, the Journal of the School of Behavioral Sciences, The College of Management, is Excellence. Our choice of this concept represents one more link in the chain of major concepts shaping our lives: Love (No. 1, January 2000), Leadership (No. 2, March 2001), Freedom (No. 3, June 2001), Justice (No. 4, January 2002), Happiness (No. 5, June 2002), Beauty (No. 6, January 2003), Desire (No 7, June 2003), Truth (No. 8, January 2004), Self-Sacrifice (No. 9, July 2004), Peace (No. 10, February 2005), Identity (No. 11, August 2005), Evil (No. 12, February 2006), Revolution (No. 13, July 2006), Hypocrisy (No. 14, March 2007), Sexuality (No. 15, July 2007), Disappointment (No. 16, July 2008), Parenting (No. 17, July 2009) and Humor (No. 18, July 2010).

Excellence, as an entry in the education lexicon, is a term commonly used by educators, industrialists, scientists, and academicians. Excellence is presented as a vaulted, necessary goal in all of life's varied spheres. But can we truly achieve Excellence? Is it possible to educate for Excellence? The difference between Excellence and distinction somewhat helps clarify the ambiguity surrounding this issues. Distinction rests in the environment's recognition of one person's achievements in comparison to those of others. However, Excellence implies a person's commitment to executing every task to the best of his or her ability, a way of life motivated primarily by personality. Excellence has the power to lead to distinction but is Excellence the sole condition necessary? Educators, scientists, academics and athletes aspire to distinction but not to Excellence; they assume that developing one's potential in relation to innate capacities will naturally facilitate reaching this goal. Excellence is therefore presented as a personal characteristic although it can also be considered a value and way of life.

The articles in this issue disclose the many aspects of Excellence. The first three articles (1-3) discuss this value's philosophical and social elements. The first article delineates the philosophical foundations of Excellence as a value whereas the second focuses on the dialectic between personal Excellence and socio-cultural Excellence. The third article takes part in a conceptual debate by presenting the difference between the drive for Excellence and the urge to excel. Personal perspectives of Excellence as expressed in art are discussed by means of five paintings, each representing a different interpretation of the concept (4). The following three articles (5-7) shed light on the implications of Excellence for education, femininity and Jewish as well as Chinese culture. A poem (8) about Excellence concludes the issue.

The articles on Excellence, like those relating to the other concepts explored in previous issues of Kaveret, were judged according to the four guiding principles comprising the Kaveret credo:

1. Consideration of the concept (one per issue) is to be as comprehensive as feasible, touching on diverse points of view: philosophical, psychological, sociological, economic, religious, literary and artistic (short stories, verse and drawing).

2. The discussion is to range from the general to the particular, from macro-level issues focused on society to micro-level issues centered on individuals, their thoughts, feelings, disappointments and hopes.

3. Contributors can be students, graduates, teaching assistants and lecturers from the Academic Studies Division as well as other institutions.

4. The format is to be compact, focused and aimed at as broad an audience as possible.

The upcoming issue of Kaveret, to be published in July 2012, will represent Kaveret's 20th issue, and be celebrated by returning to the concept that introduced Kaveret to our readers – Love. We will accept (following review) manuscripts and original works not exceeding 2000 words in length, accompanied by a 30-word abstract and up to 6 complete bibliographical references (author, title, year of publication, city and publisher or journal volume, issue and page numbers), written in the spirit of the Kaveret credo. We will also be happy to accept responses to earlier issues. All manuscripts are to be submitted no later than 15 May 2012.

Dr. Rachel Pasternak Editor-in-Chief

School of Behavioral Sciences

Academic Studies Division

The College of Management