PARSHAT BEHAALOT’CHA
RABBI VERNON KURTZ
JUNE 14, 2008

In the last few years there have been a number of books written and seminars delivered concerning the topic of leadership. Many organizational frameworks are based upon the leadership of one individual and there are many who believe that leaders can be trained by a defined program. There are others who believe that leaders are born and not made and that it is simply in the DNA of an individual who takes his or her own potential and grows with it over a period of time to make a difference in the life of an organization, institution or business venture.

Warren Bennis, one of the major contemporary thinkers on leadership, suggests that “I’ve never seen a leader derailed because of a lack of technical competence. But I have seen lots of people derailed from positions because of a lack of judgment and character.” He suggests, and I would agree, that leadership is very much found within the personality of the leader. Is he an appropriate model? Does she understand that leadership entails making the tough decisions and moving forward? Does the leader understand that there are times for compassion and that there are times for stern judgment? Can a leader appreciate that almost each and every decision has both short term and long term ramifications? And does the leader understand that people are to be used not as objects or rungs to the top of the ladder, but as collaborating individuals in a vision that will enhance their lives and the lives of others? As Rabbi Yitzhak Danziger wrote: “To be worthy of offering advice to another, to be appreciated as a leader, one need not be an expert. It is sufficient to be a trusted friend.”

Our Torah reading this morning is all about leadership and can serve as a perfect model for a leadership training seminar for all those involved in business, not-for- profit organizations and in any aspect of personal and communal life. Most of the Torah portion, of course, is concentrated upon Moses, the leader of the Israelite people. We learn a lot about his personality, his strengths and his weaknesses, his ability to be a leader, and also his limits in leading a sometimes difficult people.

As we follow our story we see that Moses finds himself in a number of different situations where he must make quick decisions which will either enhance the life of his people or lead them further down the road to self-destruction. Moses shows that he does not always have patience for these stiff-necked people. When the children of Israel complain that they have nothing to eat and that they are ready to return to Egypt because life seemed to be easier for them there, the Torah tells us Moses was distressed. He loses patience and cries out to G-d: “Where am I to get meat to give to all these people, when they whine before me and say ‘Give us meat to eat.’ I cannot carry all these people by myself, for it is too much for me. If You would deal thus with me, kill me rather, I beg You, and let me see no more of my wretchedness.”

Is this the Moses that we expect to lead the children of Israel? Is this the Moses who stood before Pharaoh and trusted that his G-d would deliver his people? Is this the Moses we would expect to gain the trust of his charges?

In the last few months we have heard the name of Harry Truman raised a great deal. Truman was seen as a decision maker as one who trusted his gut and moved forward. Frequently, Truman’s comment that: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,” has been used to define appropriate leadership. Moses finds himself in this difficult situation and complains to G-d about his own people. Is Moses’ career as a leader over? Does he deserve to continue to merit G-d’s trust, on the one hand, and the people’s on the other?

How does G-d respond to Moses’ complaints? He realizes that Moses needs some assistance and tells him to gather 70 elders from Israel who will assist him and share the burden of the people. Moses follows through and the spirit of G-d rests upon these 70 elders. When their task was done, the Torah tells us, that two men, Eldad and Medad, continued to exhibit the spirit of G-d in the encampment. Joshua, Moses’ attendant, tells Moses that he must restrain them and stop them in their tracks. However, Moses understands that they are doing this at the behest of G-d and he appreciates their support. At that point Moses says to Joshua:

“Are you wrought on my account? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord put His spirit upon them.”

Moses, as a leader, recognizes that in order to lead he must have collaborators. He understands that though he will always be G-d’s chosen leader, he needs partners; he needs those who will work together with him in order to accomplish his goals. He’s not concerned merely for his own kovod, his own personal honor. He is prepared to diminish his own ego and have others gain of G-d’s spirit upon them.

An anonymous author once wrote that if one wishes to be a leader he should take a short course in human relations. He wrote:

The six most important words: I admit I made a mistake
The five most important worlds: You did a good job.
The four most important words: What is your opinion?
The three most important words: If you please.
The two most important words: Thank you.
The one most important word: We.


A leader must understand that she must work together with others. If they are concerned only with their own self-aggrandizement they will never be successful. Totalitarian regimes and hero-cult worship are only successful if they so subject their population that there is no possibility for collaboration and cooperation. As soon as that society recognizes the fallibilities of the leader, and each of us has them, then the totalitarian regime will most surely fall as it always has throughout history. As with the suggestion of his father-in-law, Jethro, in the Book of Exodus, both in the court system and now in leadership, Moses is willing to cooperate and collaborate with others in order to reach his goals.

Finally, in the last episode of our Torah reading there is a mini-coup for leadership undertaken by Moses’ brother Aaron and sister Miriam. The cause celebre is the Cushite woman about whom they complain. Most commentators understand that they are really complaining about Moses’ leadership and the fact that though he is the youngest of the siblings, he is the only one to speak directly to G-d. Miriam is afflicted with leprosy. So what is Moses to do? Should he be pleased that the rebellion has been put down? That is not Moses’ way. Instead, he offers a short plea to G-d to heal Miriam and to bring her and Aaron back into the triumvirate of leadership.

Moses again shows his modesty and humility. He could easily have made the case that this was a palace revolt and that Aaron and Miriam will always be suspect and he can never trust them. Instead, as the Torah portion states: “Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any other man on earth.” Thus, he had a humble disposition even as he had a tendency for high drama when he was under attack.

Rabbi David Baron has written a book entitled “Moses on Management: Fifty Leadership Lessons from the Greatest Manager of all Time.” Using the biblical text and Moses’ activities from Egypt to the edge of the Promised Land he suggests that Moses was the ultimate leader and manager of all time. He was able to lead his people through the wilderness by being flexible, thinking quickly, sustaining the confidence of his people in uncertain times, and creating rules that worked for individuals from widely diverse backgrounds. And yet, Moses was not perfect for he allowed his anger, his frustration and his impatience to come out a number of times. He did not live to see his vision fulfilled and his mission completed. Overall, though, this most humble of men was the major reason that the Israelite people, with G-d’s help, could traverse the wilderness for 40 years. Using a commonality of purpose, a modest demeanor and a collaborative vision, his journey is a journey for all times.

We have finally reached the stage after months of primaries that two individuals now vie for the leadership of the United States of America. The Presidency of this country places a tremendous obligation upon a person. He or she must be an individual with vision, able to collaborate with both sides of the aisle, with Congress and the Senate, lead the people, and in fact, the free world, to create a better life not only for the citizens of this country but for the citizens of the entire globe. Yes, character matters. Yes, it is our task to discern individually what we believe these leaders bring to the table and how they will act once they are in office. No, we should not expect perfect individuals. Such an individual will never exist. Yet, we should hold them up to the highest levels of scrutiny over the course of the next few months. As Benjamin Franklin wrote, “The best sermon is a good example.”

Moses was not the perfect leader. No one ever will be. Yet, his life can be taken as an example of a person who was able to lead his nation at the most crucial of times. It would be worthwhile for the candidates in our political system to review the biblical story and to learn from Moses as a model, both from his strengths and his weaknesses. As Aaron Wildavsky in his book “Moses as Political Leader” writes, “By learning how to learn from failure, Moses succeeds.”

Following in his path and learning from his lessons would be a good exercise for all of us whether we lead in the political, organizational, institutional, business or the family sphere. It is not by happenstance that Moses is known as Moshe Rabbeinu, Moses our Teacher. He was and will ever be the teacher not only of the Jewish people but of all humanity. I pray as we make our selections over the next few months as to which candidates will best fulfill our ideals of leadership that we may all take Moses’ example to heart. May we all become true leaders in our generation.