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Spirituality

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TORAH PORTION

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Real Leadership
Includes Saying 'No'

THE FASHION WORLD
AWAITS YOU!
We are so proud of your
leadership achievements,
and all that you have
accomplished to nuke
your dreams come true.
Good luck at FIT!

Ael

Parshat B'Haalotcha: Numbers 8:1-
12:16; Zechariah 2:14-4:7.

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Mom, pad., ?2rt. 0441(4,
kw, Papa, out GG

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Co-itrabiatio-i46

Andrew

Isn't it wonderful to think of all
the things there are to discover?
It is such an interesting world!
Enjoy your journey...

Love, peace
ALWAYS
Mom & Michael
Adam, Nick', Tedi, Brandon & Sara

Mazel Toy!

!

ne of the hardest jobs of
would they have meat when they
any leader is knowing when wanted.
to say yes to the demands
Moses, though, does not explain
of the people and when to say no. It
to them why they should be content
does not matter whether the
with the manna. He is
leader is an elected official,
tired and frustrated
a board member, a teacher
himself. He takes the
or a parent. Leaders who
people's request to God,
abdicate this responsibility
even though he knows it
have no real effectiveness.
is not the right decision.
It is far easier to give in to
God becomes angry at
a request than making the
the people, but at Moses
difficult decision to say no,
as well.
even when we know a nega-
Moses' frustration is
tive response would be in
certainly understand-
the person's best interests.
able, but his deteriorat-
Rabbi Aaron
We do not want to look
ing lack of willingness
Bergman
mean or heartless. We want
to help the people com-
Special to the
to make ourselves look kind
prehend God's actions
Jewish News
and generous. Maybe we
compromises his effec-
just do not want to hear the whining
tiveness. Moses is soon stripped of
anymore. Perhaps we are just tired.
leadership.
Good leadership requires making
Anyone in position of leadership
tough choices, regardless of how it
has an obligation to make difficult
looks to others at first, even to the
decisions, but parents have the most
ones we love. It also requires, though, sacred and challenging responsibility
helping people understand why we
of all. They are the only real constant
make the decisions that we do.
source of authority in a person's life.
Our Torah portion discusses the
A parent cannot be voted out of
beginning of the end of Moses as
office or resign the position. That
the leader of the Jewish people.
responsibility can be frightening and
Throughout his life, Moses' great
enervating. We do not want our chil-
attribute has been to fight for his
dren to be angry with us, not even for
people to God and to defend God's
a moment. We may want to give in on
decisions to the people. Moses was
an issue because we feel guilty about
a great leader when he was able to
another aspect of the relationship.
maintain the balance between argu-
We have an obligation, however,
ing on behalf of the people when
to look past our own anxieties and
they were right and chastising the
fatigue. If we want to help our chil-
people when they were wrong. He
dren find their own best place in the
could no longer be a leader once he
world, we have to say no to some-
lost this ability.
thing we know is just not right for
The Torah describes the people's
them.
frustration with having manna to
eat every day. They demanded meat,
Aaron Bergman is a rabbi at Adat Shalom
something they probably did not
Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
have in Egypt. They complained bit-
terly. Moses knew that manna was
the right thing for them at the time.
Conversations
God did not want them to become
Can you say no to your children
placid in the wilderness, but would
and make it stick? How does
look forward to their real freedom
that decision make you feel,
in the Land of Israel. Manna was the
even when it is best for your
food they would eat until they lived
children?
freely in their own land. Only then

❑

We are proud of you and all
you have accomplished.
Your journey has only just begun.
Good luck at
Michigan State University.

We love you,
Mom, Dad, Jordan & Mickey

40

May 27 • 2010