Parshas Shemos
By Rabbi David Zauderer
Many years ago, when I was doing my rabbinical training in New York City, I had the privilege of hearing a talk about Jewish leadership from Rabbi Avraham Chaim Feuer shlitâ€a.
[BTW, in case you’re wondering what shlitâ€a is, it is not part of Rabbi Feuer’s last name. Rather, it is an acronym for She’yichyeh L'orech Yamim Tovim Amen. “May he live a good long life, Amenâ€. It is pronounced SHLEE-tuh and is usually inserted after the name of a prominent living rabbi.]
During that memorable talk, Rabbi Feuer shared with us a short but powerful insight into the different kinds of Jewish leadership – based on a verse in this week’s Torah portion, Parshas Shemos – and I would like to pass this insight on to you.
[But first a disclaimer: If what I am about to share with you seems painfully obvious to you, then I humbly suggest that you first read Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto’s introduction to his classic ethical work Mesillas Yesharim (Way of the Upright):
The writer says: I have composed this work not to teach people what they do not know but to remind them of what they already know and which is very familiar to them. For you will find in most of my words only things which most people already know and do not have any doubt about. But according to their familiarity and to the extent that their truth is evident to all, so too is their neglect very prevalent and forgetfulness of them very great. Therefore, the benefit to be gleaned from this book is not from a single reading, for it is possible that the reader will learn little that he did not already know. Rather the benefit derived [from this book] comes from review and diligent study. For [then] he will be reminded of these things which, by nature, people tend to forget, and he will put to heart his duties which he hides from.
And now for the insight from Rabbi Feuer shlitâ€a …]
Throughout the Torah we find mention of people using three different types of “staffs†– and each with a different Hebrew name.
So, for example, in this week’s Torah portion, we find Moses shepherding and leading his father-in-law Jethro’s flock with a mateh, a “shepherd’s staff†(see Exodus 3:1-4:2).
Later on in the Torah we find Balaam, the wicked prophet, striking his donkey with a makel, a “stickâ€, as it says: “Balaam’s anger flared and he struck the she-donkey with the staff†(see Numbers 22:27).
And the Jewish prophet Zechariah tells us of a time in the future when old people will gather together in Jerusalem, each person leaning on his mishenes, or “caneâ€, as it says: “Old men and old women will once again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with his staff in his hand because of advanced age†(Zechariah 8:4).
With this – explains Rabbi Feuer - we can gain new insight into a brief exchange of words between G-d and Moses at the Burning Bush in this week’s Torah portion:
“G-d said to him [Moses], ‘What is that in your hand?’ and he said, ‘A staff’ (Exodus 4:2)
G-d was asking Moses, “What is in your hand?â€, i.e. What type of ‘staff’ are you going to use to lead the Jewish people? Are you going to use a makel, a “stick†with which to force the Jewish people to listen to you? Or perhaps you will be a weak leader who will use a mishenes, a “cane†to lean on the people for their backing and support?
To which Moses replied, I will use neither of those when leading the Jewish people. Rather, I will use a mateh, a “shepherd’s staffâ€, i.e. i will stand in front of my flock and guide them through my own personal example.
May we all take this powerful – if obvious – insight into effective Jewish leadership to heart, and may we merit to lead those around us – be it our congregation, constituency, community or family – in the best possible way. Amen.
http://www.torchweb.org/torah_detail.php?id=599