LINCOLN and MOSES – LEADERSHIP IS BEING FULLY AWARE OF THE PEOPLE YOU LEAD!

It was off to the movies for us on New Year’s Day. A very popular destination as there wasn’t a single empty seat in the theater when we went to see Spielberg’s “LINCOLN.” It was a wonderful film with Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role. Abraham Lincoln has oft been called, among other things, a wonderful leader, a great orator, and the American Moses.
Coincidentally, this week we begin the book of Exodus, which brings us the life and events of the “original” Moses. This week’s parasha, Shemot , commences with the birth of Moses and continues on to the events that bring him to the leadership of the Israelites and his role in securing their exodus from Egypt and their journey from slavery to freedom.  Both Moses and Lincoln have, historically, been linked with the concept of leading the enslaved to freedom. And both men have made their place in history as remarkable leaders.
But what are the qualities of a really good leader? England’s Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, in response to the question, “who is a leader?” responds thus: the Jewish answer is, one who identifies with his or her people, mindful of their faults, to be sure, but convinced also of their potential greatness and their preciousness in the sight of G-d. “
Lincoln’s leadership certainly fits the description, but he led with greater confidence than Moses!
When God taps Moses for the job of going before the Pharaoh to intercede on the part of the enslaved Israelites and lead them out of Egypt, Moses has a list of reasons why he isn’t up to the job. He points to his speech impediment…”no sweat” says God, “Aaron will speak for you.” Moses wonders why the Jews would listen to him or believe he was acting on behalf of THE invisible God.  “No problem,” says God, “I’ll give you some magic tricks including this walking stick that converts into a snake and then back again”, and then God instructs him on how to turn Nile water into blood.  Still questioning God’s ability to back him up, God tells him to stick his hand in his robe then pull it out.  YIKES it is covered with white, scales of LEPROSY! On God’s command he sticks his hand back in, and VOILA, when he pulls it out the scales are gone. Even with God’s assurances that Moses was up to the task AND that the people would listen to him, he was the most reluctant of leaders.
Certainly, Moses was filled with insecurities and self -doubt. But remember, he wasn’t just a shepherd. He had been raised in the Pharaoh’s palace, as a Prince of Egypt, able to see and study, first hand, the ins and outs of power and leadership as he grew to adulthood.
His big worry is that he knows that the Israelites are a ‘stiff-necked’ people. They’ve already expressed how they feel about Moses years prior to these events, with one person even sneering “Who made YOU ruler and judge over US?” And after the first visit with Pharaoh, the people despise Moses even more, for making their lives even more difficult. But God reminds Moses that they are, despite all their shortcomings, a worthy people. Also, God points out that He had promised to fulfill a pact with their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and this included giving them a land of their own and making them as numerous as the stars in the sky, promises that can only be kept of the Chosen depart from Egypt. It is up to God to calm his doubts, not those regarding his capabilities, for they could be overcome. But his real insecurity, the ability to work with the people he is supposed to LEAD!  He knows what a handful the Children of Israel can be, and can only imagine what is in store for the journey ahead. God understands his concern and addresses Moses thus, “Those people of whom you have doubts,” said G-d to Moses, “are believers, the children of believers. They are My people, and they are your people. Just as you believe in Me, so you must believe in them.”

From this, let us learn that the key to true leadership is not just to inspire and direct but to believe and have faith in those you lead.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Rose