Wednesday, January 9, 2013

And the Politicians Throwing Stones (John Barlow & Bob Weir - Throwing Stones)



A famous Italian Renaissance writer once wrote the power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. When leaders, leaders of business, leaders of congregations, and leaders of nations fall out of touch with Amchah, with the people, those leaders become vulnerable to losing their grip on power. When leaders start to actually think that they are bigger than the group, then the leader will eventually lose control of the group. Every leader, from Presidents and Prime Ministers to Priests and Rabbis, leaders must always remain aware of the very tricky tightrope upon which careers are balanced. Leader must remember for whom they work, what they represent, and to whom they are answerable. When leaders fail to remember these things, then leaders become arrogant and out of touch. Like all leaders both historical and fictional, this arrogance or hubris generally leads to their downfall. We saw it with King Saul, Macbeth, and we see it in the boardroom of AIG and some in Toronto think that we see it in the Toronto Mayor’s office.
In this week’s Parsha, Va’eira, we read of the importance of leadership while avoiding arrogance. We read of leaders remaining in touch with Amchah (the people), even when Amchah doesn’t listen and fails to cooperate. We read of the terrible results when leadership becomes arrogant, out of touch, and without a sense of limits. We learn that seven times Moshe and Aharon went before Pharaoh and asked that B’nai Yisroel be freed in order to serve God in the wilderness. Seven times Pharaoh’s heart hardens and he refuses. The Parsha begins with G-d telling Moshe of the covenant, and that although he revealed himself to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov; he did so with a different name (Ex. 6:3). Therefore, we can surmise that Moshe had a very different type of revelation and relationship with G-d than our forefathers.
This different relationship manifests itself in the conversation that transpires in Ex.6:10-13. “Then the Lord spoke to Moshe saying: Go and tell Pharaoh King of Egypt to let B’nai Yisroel out of his land. But Moshe spoke before the Lord saying: Look, B’nai Yisroel have not heeded me; how then will Pharaoh heed me, seeing I am of uncircumcised lips? So the Lord spoke to Moshe and Aharon and commanded them to B’nai Yisroel and Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt.” God never spoke this way to any of the Avot (Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov). Nor did they speak to God like Moshe. While there are many ways to understand God’s response to a dejected Moshe, certainly one way is within the context of leadership. God essentially tells Moshe to get back out there with his brother and do what needs to be done. God also tells Moshe, that both he and Aharon must first go to their constituency even before confronting Pharaoh. Why go to B’nai Yisroel? They don’t listen and they don’t pay attention. Besides, the authority that Moshe and Aharon must confront is Pharaoh, not B’nai Yisroel. Moshe and Aharon must remain in touch with the people, even if that means increased frustration and diminished efficiency in achieving the ultimate goal. Moshe and Aharon cannot lose touch with the people or the people lose touch with the covenant and even with God. 
God implicitly tells Moshe that humility is required for leadership. Rambam re-iterates this in a specific ruling: “It is forbidden for a person to lord it over the community in a domineering manner but he must exercise his authority with humility and reverence; it is likewise forbidden to treat the people with disrespect even if they are ignorant… Though they may be ordinary common folk, they are the children of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov…. He [the leader] should rather bear patiently the cumbrance of the community and their burden…Look at Moshe…God gave them a charge to Israel which our tradition takes to mean that  Moshe and Aharon accepted the yoke of leadership of the people on the understanding that they will curse and stone them.”
This first step in humble leadership is acknowledgment of limitations. Hence, we read Ani Adonai, “I am the Lord”, seven times in the Parsha. Moshe and Aharon should never forget that. While it may be humbling for the leader to admit that there is still a greater being, it is even more humbling for any leader to admit that he/she must also be answerable to Amchah. Moshe and Aharon learn this lesson. Pharaoh does not. For many leaders it is often the most difficult lesson to remember. Leadership must answer to both God and to Amchah.
Peace,
Rav Yitz

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