Omer 2025 Day 46

Day 45 | Day 47

Day 46: Endurance: Shackelton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Netzach in Malchut, Endurance in Leadership

This book was recommended to me by a colleague and it did not disappoint. It tells the story of the Endurance and its crew of 27 men, led by Sir Ernest Shackelton, as they attempted an expedition to Antarctica. The ship was trapped and then crushed by ice and all 28 men abandoned ship to camp on the ice until the currents could push them closer to land and they could hopefully row their three ship's boats to land. Since it's a matter of history, I don't think it's a spoiler to tell you that all 28 men survived the voyage, in large part because of Shackelton's leadership. From his initial choice of crewmen who would complement each other's skills and personalities, to his management of potentially undermining crewmembers, and, of course, his life-and-death decision-making, Shackelton led his men with a sense of responsibility for their lives that often flew in the face of their dire circumstances. He spent time building trust and camaraderie that ultimately helped them endure unimaginable hardship together.