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| Thu, 09 May 2024 17:09:37 -0500 — |
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D'var: Parashat Yitro 5783
Commentary by Dawn Elmore Friday, February 10, 2023 |
| Exodus 18:1 — 20:21 |
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Dale Carnegie. Stephen Covey. Jack Maxwell. Brene Brown. John Kotter. These are but a few of the experts in American culture who have written books on leadership. They all provide guidance on characteristics of leaders and ways in which those leaders can facilitate change in corporate and personal settings. Each of them has pearls of wisdom to impart to readers who readily absorb self-help and corporate ideals as part of self-transformation. As Jews, of course we could take ideals for leadership from people in the corporate and psychological realms. But what if we looked for our help within our own tradition, within our holy book and the commentaries and other Jewish works that accompany it? Parashat Yitro is a great starting point for us to learn more about what it takes to be a great leader, not just of our own people, but of people in general. This portion gives us three role models for leadership: Jethro himself, Moses, and Adonai our God. First, let’s take a look at what Jethro does in this portion of Exodus. As a leader, someone should never stay hidden away in an office or otherwise be removed from the people to be led unless absolutely necessary. Most managers today don’t heed this advice, but Jethro is different. He’s on a mission to help Moses, so he crosses the desert to meet him. Jethro even brings Moses’s wife and children along so the family can be reunited. Providing Moses with the people he needs to feel most comfortable is a great leadership move because it helps Moses be in a better place for the tremendous mission he is about to undertake. Jethro also models leadership by celebrating the accomplishments of his son-in-law while also providing him with suggestions on how to become a better leader. When Moses updates him on everything Adonai has done and what is to come, Jethro celebrates with him for God’s grace. Although it’s never directly stated, it’s implied this is also a celebration of Moses’s part in making this happen. When Moses explains to Jethro how the magistrate process has been working, Jethro explains to him why the system isn’t the best way to judge people and offers him constructive criticism on how to make the process better. This is done in a kind manner rather than presented as an admonishment, which is exactly what a good leader should do. Finally, Jethro leaves once his mission is complete. A good leader knows when to get out of the way. This brings us to Moses, who demonstrates his leadership by being willing to accept the help Jethro provides and changing his system. Moses’s new system empowers people by sharing leadership and giving the Israelites a greater stake in the way the community is run. Good leaders know that delegating and providing people with opportunities to grow their own leadership skills strengthens the community and empowers others to achieve their full potential. It also enables him to concentrate on the tasks he has at hand in his upcoming meeting with Hashem. Moses appears before God and remains humble, doing what is asked of him. We often hear the term servant leadership. Moses was modeling this long before it became a buzzword. He brings the message of Adonai to the people. He also presents the request of Hashem for the Israelites to assemble before God at Mount Sinai. Here’s the part of the story where God’s leadership shines through. The wording of this portion is clear. All the people are to come together at Sinai: not just the elders, not just the most holy, not just the men, but everyone, the people. For its time, this is revolutionary leadership. In most ancient religions, personal relationships with deities were usually reserved for those deemed most powerful, rich, or holy. Not our God though—Adonai is there for everyone and wants to talk with every single Israelite in a public setting. Good leaders are there for everyone and communicate with everyone. Our tradition even teaches through midrash that every single Jew throughout history was present at Sinai to hear the commandments and receive the covenant. The commandments themselves are a study in leadership. They provide basic ethics that transcend our particular faith. Other religions use versions of them as their own tenets, and even those who aren’t religious can find value in the concepts Hashem presents. Show loyalty to those who have your best interest at heart. Don’t try to find fulfillment in hollow substitutes because then you’ll miss out. Don’t tell lies. Take a day off each week to appreciate life and the gifts you’ve been given. Honor your ancestors. Don’t murder people. Don’t screw up your own and other people’s relationships with infidelity. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Don’t get yourself worked up with jealousy over things that aren’t yours to have. They’re pretty simple rules that can cover most situations. The only system that has anything resembling them is Buddhism with its Eightfold Path, and its precepts have some interesting cultural distinctions. Our God shows leadership through presenting a basic set of rules for the Israelites to follow. Jewish tradition also says those present at Sinai who heard Adonai speak “heard what they were able to hear.” This is pretty much the way life works all the time. People have different experiences, different levels of intelligence, and different perspectives. Jews have made holding and debating multiple opinions an art form in our culture. Given God’s power, we could have all been given the same abilities or the same interpretations. The fact we have free will and a design that allows for infinite permutations of characteristics and understandings is yet another testament to Hashem’s leadership. The overall design of God’s plan is such that we are free to be who we are, and we come from a design that allows us to learn and grow so that we can become better versions of ourselves through our own thought processes and interactions with each other. A good leader not only meets people where they are but also gives people the freedom both to be themselves and change as circumstances permit or require. We are blessed that we all have the ability to learn about leadership and become leaders ourselves as we struggle with ideas and situations. While we certainly can and should study the works of the best leaders in history and today’s society, we would do well to remember our culture has embodied great leadership for thousands of years. The close relationship we have with our God and the ethical ways those who labored tirelessly on Adonai’s behalf modeled for us are the best foundation for understanding how to lead and how to serve others throughout the ages. Dawn Elmore |
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