'row-

The Dr. Fred Benderoff Memorial Lecture on Healing

featuring

Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub

4 111111101

Community

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Torah Portion

Inspiring Leaders Convey
Compassion, Prophetic Spirit

them" and that they prophesied. The
text suggests that the prophetic spirit
is an indispensable element of great
leadership, because true leaders sum-
mon us to the highest call of con-
science and morality; they show us
the promise of the future; they enable
his week's sedrah (Torah por- us to see hope and promise in the
midst of difficulty and struggle.
tion) focuses on the nature
How desperately we need such
of leadership.
leaders
today. We need the kind of
Moses is beset by the
leadership
that has a vision of love
murmuring and the rebellion of the
and
unity,
that
brings progress by rec-
people in the wilderness. They are dis-
onciling
different
groups in our socie-
satisfied, for they remember not the
ry,.and
not by seeking to
torment of the slave camps,
exploit hate and fear and
but rather the fleshpots and
thereby achieving power.
creature comforts of Egypt.
We need this kind of
Discouraged and disheart-
leadership
in the family, in
ened, Moses is instructed by
the
classroom,
and in the
God to select leaders — men
executive
office
because the
who will share the burden of
nature
of
our
society
is
responsibility for the welfare
changing.
A
generation
or
of the people. Designated as
two ago, families were
zekainim (elders), they were
ruled by parents as absolute
people of reverence and
despots; the educator had
RABBI IRWIN
knowledge and upon Them
complete authority over his
did rest "the spirit of the
GRONER
students; and the owner
Lord." In this brief passage is
Special to the
had unquestioned power
intimated the essential quali-
Jewish News
over his employees.
ties of leadership.
But all this has changed
Seventy were chosen. The
because
children
seek to have a share
Jewish tradition offers an instructive
in the decisions that families make,
legend
about
their
background.
When
b
b
students want to participate in the
the Hebrew people lived in Egypt,
process
of education, and employees
Egyptian taskmasters were placed over
seek
to
add
their views to manage-
the Israelite labor camps and Hebrew
ment
in
the
conduct of business.
officers were appointed. The taskmas-
No
longer
do leaders have the
ters demanded the daily quota of
capacity
to
coerce
others. We need
bricks. When the quota was not met,
to
lead
by
persuasion
and by per-
the Egyptians started punishing the
slaves. The Hebrew officers then came sonal example. We need to lead by
creating a shared consensus and a
forward and said:
common understanding developed
"We are to blame; it is we who
by effective communication. \X 7e
deserve the punishment and not the
need to project that vision, sinceri-
people because we did not encourage
ty, and commitment which will win
the slaves to work hard enough." The
the support of those whom we seek
Hebrew officers then accepted the
to influence. Our concern should
lash of the taskmaster's whip and bore
inspire trust; our wisdom should
the pain of the people.
inspire confidence; our faithfulness
Years later, when Moses was to
should inspire loyalty.
choose those who were to share with
This was the achievement of the
him in the eminence of leadership, he
"elders
of Ancient Israel" who present
turned to that group who had
a
meaningful
challenge to our genera-
demonstrated their compassion for
tion.
the needs of others, their concern for
the travail of those they represented.
This, therefore, marks the test of a
good leader. Does he have love for
those on whose behalf he speaks? Is
Discuss the bases for electing our 1
he able ro articulate the needs and
religious and political leaders.
N
yearnings of those whom he repre-
What
do
your
see
as
the
qualifi-
sents?
cations for leaders in those areas? 9
The Bible said about these 70 that
How realistically do these people
"the spirit of the Lord came upon
speak for those they represent?
Irwin Groner is the senior rabbi at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.

Shabbat Behaalotecha:
Numbers 8: 1-12: 16;
Zachariah 2:14-4:7.

"Healing of the Soul,
Healing of Body"
Thursday, June 28 7:30 p.m.
Adat Shalom Synagogue

The community is welcome. There is no charge.
For information. call 85 1-5100

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