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Torah Insists That Jewish Leaders
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Be Devoted To The Community
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With specig guest, Tme./ $615er

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Accompmied by Jerry `Del'utt on the /*Do
PDG1 'Pete Kilr) on CLIrtt)et.
Thursday, %August ls, 2002 -1:30 to 3:00pm
at Temple Israel
5725 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48'323

'Ilene note eitgnge of 'Dote

As part of our regular afternoon program for Seniors,.
we invite YOU to attend this wonderful concert.
Refreshments, of course, follow the program.
Come alone — bring a friend
Open to the community free of charge.

For more information, call Kari K. Provizer
Family Life Center - 248-661-5700

Partly funded by the David Arthur Stulberg Memorial Fund
And the Harry a Phyllis Kellman Memorial Fund

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CALLTOOM FOR A SUBSCRIPTION

8/ 9
2002

54

248.539.3001

Torah Portion

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tj-tes eAuxq colvtmoxitY

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Spirituality

tions for judgeship is to "despise
gain."
If, then, the authority figures are
denied the typical rewards of power,
their only motive for accepting these
positions must be their commitment
to serve the community and the sense
of duty and responsibility their office
requires. This,can be seen clearly at
n this week's portion, we are
the
end of our portion when the eld-
presented with the various posi-
ers
of
the city nearest a homicide must
tions of authority within the
be
able
to wash their hands and
biblical Torah community. They
declare:
" ... Our hands did not (cause
include the judges, officers, king,
or
contribute
in any way to) spill this
priests and prophet.
blood"
(Deuteronomy 12:7).
What those figures of
In
fact,
the ultimate role
authority all seem to have in
model
for
any
figure of
common is the Torah's insis-
authority within the Jewish
tence that their duty is one
community must be Moses.
of service and responsibility
He
not only was very reluc-
to the community and the
tant
to assume the position
Torah's warning prohibiting
chosen
for him by God
wealth or power beyond
(Exodus
3:11-4:16), but is
what is required to fulfill
characterized
in the. Torah
their obligation to the com-
(Numbers 12:3) as "exceed-
munity.
ingly humble —.more than
RABBI
This is clear with the king
any
man on the face of the
ELIEZER
who is prohibited from accu-
earth."
Similarly, when
COHEN
mulating too many horses
Joshua,
Moses' disciple and
Special to the
(including military)
successor,
interprets the
(Deuteronomy 17:16),
Jewish News
prophecy
of
others as a chal-
women (Deuteronomy 17:17)
lenge to Moses' authority
or gold and silver
and suggests Moses punish them,
(Deuteronomy 17:17).
Moses
responds and teaches him the
These typical trappings of power
real
meaning
of authority. Moses says
are forbidden to the king and, in fact,
(Numbers 11:29): "... are you jealous
for my sake — would God
that all the Lord's people
were prophets and that the
Lord would put His spirit
upon them."
Moses was the humble ser-
vant of God and with that as
his only motivation — to
serve God and His people —
did he take on the responsi-
bility to serve.
Those who wish to
empower or enrich them-
selves — or eyen simply to control
he is warned: "Not to be arrogant
others — have no place as leaders of
above his brothers ..." (Deuteronomy
the
Jewish people. History and • com-
17:20). With so much power so easily
mon
sense teach us the same lesson
within his grasp, the Torah warns the
about
leadership in any context. ❑
king (as well as the nation), denying

Shabbat Shofetim:
Deuteronomy
16•18-21:9;
Isaiah 51:12-52:12.

I

The ultimate role
model for any figure
of authority must be
Moses.

him these consequences and assists to
his power.
Likewise, the priests are precluded
from permanent acquisition and
inheritance of land, which, of course,
was the basis of all wealth in an agrar-
ian society. The judges too are warned
in our portion against any kind of
bribery (Deuteronomy 16:19) and in
Exodus (18:21), one of the qualifica-

Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of Congregation
Or Chadash.

Conversations

What motivates people to take
on.leadership roles? Why do
some people seem to have a need
to control others? Why is politics
so often an attempt to "get and
maintain power"? How can we
choose better leaders?