Art by Sefira Lightstone
A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY
There is so much to take from this week’s portion (Shemot) regarding leadership. Moses is chosen by G-d to lead the Jewish people during his encounter with the Burning Bush. Again, so many questions all around: Why a bush? Why wasn’t it being consumed? Why was Moses shepherding sheep altogether when he had a larger mission to fulfill? But let’s look at the encounter itself and try to take something from it. When G-d calls out to Moses and taps him to approach Pharaoh, Moses won’t have it. Moses feels that he is inadequate and just overall not the right person to take on this massive role. First, let us acknowledge the tremendous amount of humility that Moses displays – the quintessential quality of a leader. But Moses argues with G-d. “I am not the right one; isn’t there someone more qualified than I?” G-d answers Moses but this is a problem we face constantly: Misplaced humility. “Who am I? Why should I take on this cause? This isn’t even my specialty.” We must take this lesson, and realize that this argument is not coming from the right place but rather from trying to shirk this responsibility.
Next, Moses argues that the people won’t listen to him! We’ve all had this conversation with ourselves: “It’s not that I don’t want to do it, but I can’t change the next person, so why should I bother? If it were just up to me, I’d be ready to go!”
Lastly, Moses argues that while this may lead to redemption from Egypt, there would be various exiles, trials, tribulations ahead. Moses’ argument to G-d? “If I can’t complete the task entirely, why bother at all?”
G-d answers Moses and he heads toward his glorious destiny, but his reluctance serves as an eternal lesson for us all. We need to recall the saintly words from Pirkei Avot: “It may not be our task to complete the work, yet we are not free to desist from it.” Yes, perfection is a wonderful thing. Completing the job is a thrill. It’s great when we can put a bow on something, but sometimes our job is just to get the ball rolling. After all, if Moses hadn’t, where would we be as a people today? Good Shabbos!