As the primary season heats up, the battle is on for who will be the leader of this country. Every election race since I have lived in this country has been interesting and each one has brought its own twists and turns. There is passion and energy in the discussions about who the next leader should be and what kind of ideals they are pushing for or represent. Debates, opinion polls and election newscasts are almost never ending as the search is on for a new leader for the USA.
Once upon a time, the Jews had a leader of epic proportions, and his name was Moses. Moses was not a gifted speaker, well connected politician or wealthy mogul, but he was an intensely amazing spiritual leader, who inspired the Jews, led them to freedom and helped them connect with G-d.
In this week's Torah portion there is a series of dramatic events that highlight what leadership can be. The events begin with Moses coming back late down the mountain and the Jews panicking and thinking they have lost their leader. It continues with them creating a Golden Calf to worship and pray to and then G-d becoming very upset at the people.
G-d wants to start over a new nation with Moses, but Moses the brave leader that he is, begins to argue and beg G-d to forgive and give the Jews another chance. G-d tells him to leave him alone and let him do what he needs to, but Moses doesn't relent and continues to beseech and beg G-d to save the Jews and give them another chance. At one point, Moses says to G-d, if you will destroy the people, then take my name out of the Torah, and then...... G-d relents and forgives the people.
Moses knew that G-d had entrusted him with the Jewish people to care for, and that included tending to their needs, and yes even advocating for them after they had sinned. Moses knew that this could be a turning moment in the story of the Jewish people, and it could either all end right there, or the Jews could be taught to bounce back from failure. Moses chose to advocate for the latter option, and as history proves his epic leadership inspired the people to fix, correct and rebuild their relationship with G-d which ultimately is the main message of the story of the Golden Calf.
There is one more element of leadership in this whole story, and that is the role of the women. Despite a huge amount of social pressure from the men, including their own spouses, the women would not relent and refused to join this misguided craze of idol worship on the spur of the moment. Their choice was a brave one and one not so popular during the heat of the moment. While the men failed, the women exhibited moral clarity and leadership in a manner that allowed them to stay above the fray and stay focused on what is right and what is wrong.
It is 2016 and elections are fast approaching, and yes they are very important and yes who the candidates will be is also very important. Yet the Jewish tradition and especially the story of this week's portion, reminds us that leaders are not only the big leaders, rather each and every single one of us can be a leader of moral choices and spiritual contributions to the world around us in one way or another. Sometimes it is by praying and advocating, sometimes it is by acting and speaking up, and sometimes it is by refusing to go along with an action or choice that is immoral and wrong.
Judaism says, leadership is not just at the top, it is something each one of us can succeed and be a part of. The best part about it, you don't have to spend millions or run ads to become that leader, rather, it is simply by being a good person in your own backyard!
Yisroel