Ct Children o f ChernobYI I 49 PP A A 6 46 ) A ea The Leadership Mantle Is Not Easily Worn is proud to honor Judith Grant Granader RABBI JULIAN I. COOK SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS W at A Sukkos Concert featuring Avraham Fried Wednesday, October I I, 1995 7:30 p.m. Seaholm High School 2436 W. Lincoln, Birmingham TICKET PRICES $25 at door $18 in advance Adults: $15 at door Children: $12 in advance (under 12) For special group and family rates call: (810) 851-6032 or (810) 541-4171 Tickets available at BORENSTEIN'S, ESTHER'S and SPITZER'S 34 hat makes a good leader? That question is as old as society and certainly as current as our won political controversies. Every Jewish and secular insti- tution today struggles with this question. Our ancestors had some pret- ty sound insights into the ele- ments of good leadership and the issues leaders had to face. This week's parasha, Vayelech (the shortest portion in the Torah and one we don't usually see by itself) has some interesting examples of leadership criteria. The portion talks about com- mitting the Torah to writing and teaching it publicly to all the peo- ple. It also predicts the people will go astray and God will become angry with them, temporarily hiding from them. But the focal point seems to be the passing down of the mantle of leadership from Moses to Joshua. As we ap- proach the end of Sefer Devarim, or Deuteronomy, we also ap- proach the end of Moses' life. A great new adventure awaits the Jewish people as they cross into the promised land. They will need a new leader, a strong leader, one who can help the peo- ple fulfill their destiny to inherit the land which God promised their ancestors. The appointment of Joshua re- ally represents a significant new paradigm for leadership in the ancient world. Previously, lead- ership was seen as the preroga- tive of the patriarch to pass down to his son, usually the eldest son. This was true in tribes and fam- ilies, as in the story of Jacob and Esau, and it also held true for the high priesthood of Israel (e.g., from Aaron to Eleazar). But not here. Neither of Moses' sons, Ger- shon or Eliezer, follows in his foot- steps (in fact, we don't know what become of them). Why? What must Moses have been feeling as he consecrated Joshua, not his own son, to the task? In a midrash in Bamidbar Rabbah, the rabbis suggests Moses' sons were not worthy: They didn't study Torah or per- form mitzvot, whereas Joshua did. The message is clear: An ac- cident of birth, or "yichus", is not sufficient for leadership. the job requires the best person based on character and experience. Joshua had clearly pioven himself: He had been Moses' per- sonal attendant, serving him well, and guarding the tent of meeting; he was a proven mili- tary commander; and, perhaps most importantly, he had shown courage and faith in God by standing against the multitude whose weakness resulted in 40 years of wandering. Joshua and his compatriot Caleb were the only tow scouts, out of 12, to bring back a positive report of the land and encourage immediate colo- nization. Because the people did not heed their recommendation, no adult who came out of Egypt, save Joshua and Caleb, was priv- ileged to enter the land. Joshua had all the right credentials. Rashi, the medieval commen- tator, suggested that Joshua's competition for the job wasn't re- ally Moses' sons, but rather Aaron's grandson, Pinchas. That young man, it will be remem- bered, had demonstrated excep- tional zealousness for God by dramatically killing an Israelite caught in the midst of a dis- graceful act, averting God's wrath. But ultimately Pinchas came up short, says Rashi, be- cause his action was impulsive and violent; he took matters into his own hand, rather than letting justice run its course. Thus the lesson, per Rashi, is that a good leader must be patient, cautious, and judicious. He must have courage and wisdom to lead a dif- ficult people with resolve; yet he must also be capable of learning from others. _z) Shabbat Vayelech: Deuteronomy 31:1-30 Hosea 14:2-10 Micah 7:18-20 Joel 2:15-27. How did Joshua learn? Moses taught him patience. At one point, two men, Eldad and Medad (Numbers 11) were prophesying strangely and Joshua saw their ecstatic behav- ior as dangerous and wanted them restrained. But Moses urged patience and said, "Are you wrought up on my account? Would that all God's people were prophets!" A good leader doesn't need to silence those with differ- ent perspectives. It also is significant that Moses invested Joshua publicly rather than privately. Why did he make a big deal out of it? Moses was such a great man, his relation- ship with God unparalleled; it is hard to imagine anyone filling his c-/