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Being the leader can often be a thankless task. If you are doing a good job no-one thanks you – it’s expected. But if things start going wrong everyone has a gripe and a complaint. One of the things I used to love about flying El Al to Tel Aviv was the spontaneous applause, which always broke out, when the plane touched down on the Israeli tarmac. The pilot and crew had done nothing more than their jobs required, but the passengers wanted to say thank you.
We never hear the Israelites thank Moses for his hard work leading them from slavery to freedom, and bringing God’s presence into the camp. But when something goes wrong they love to complain. Moses is generally a great leader, and he deals well with the people’s complaints, but this week he slips up. It is in the context of his mistake that he truly demonstrates his real greatness and the challenge of being a leader.
Our Torah portion begins with the death of Moses’ sister Miriam (Numbers 20:1). There is no explanation and no period of mourning for her brothers or the community. Instead the people complain (what’s new there?) They come to Moses to moan about the lack of water (the rabbinic Midrash suggests that a well followed Miriam throughout the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness). No-one offers Moses any sympathy, or condolences for his loss; he is expected to get on with his job and respond to another Israelite complaint.
Moses pointedly does not utter a single word. He simply goes with Aaron, his brother and fellow mourner, to fall before God at the Tabernacle. And God responds, as always, with a solution for Moses: ‘Take the rod … and speak to the rock before their eyes and it shall give forth water’ (Numbers 20:8).
It is understandable that Moses would be upset. Upset about his sister’s death, upset that he has been unable to mourn, and upset by another Israelite challenge. He voices his frustration calling the people ‘rebels’ (Numbers 20:10) and then he gives expression to his exasperation, striking the rock twice (Numbers 20:11), rather than talking to it. He could be forgiven for this little outburst, for this show of frustration.
He resisted the temptation to lash out at the people. He continued to fulfil his leadership role. He took his frustration out on an inanimate object, striking the rock to give expression to his hurt, anger and exasperation. God had told him to take the rod with him, placing temptation in his path. And significantly water flowed from the rock. But the punishment is immediate; as God tells Moses and Aaron: ‘you shall not bring this people into the land’ (Numbers 20:12).
The punishment appears excessive. Moses has been pushed and prodded by this people ever since Egypt. And although he was probably emotionally unstable after his sister’s death, there is no sympathy. Leaders are held to a higher, almost unattainable, standard, and they suffer when they fall short.
Moses would be forgiven for giving up and resigning on the spot; leaving God and the people alone together. Instead, it is at this moment that Moses marks himself apart as a truly outstanding leader. He does not appeal to God or the people. Instead he sends messengers to the king of Edom (Numbers 20:14) so that the Israelite journey can continue. It is a journey which Moses will not complete, but he puts his personal feelings aside and focuses solely on fulfilling his leadership role.
Although he will not reach the Promised Land, Moses puts the needs of the community above his own. He will not be the pilot who will land in Israel, but he certainly deserves applause.
People can be hungry for leadership, Korach provides our ancient example (Number 16:1-20) and there are too many contemporary ones to name. But Moses demonstrates the truth of the line in Spiderman: ‘with great power comes great responsibility’. In slipping up, Moses demonstrates his own greatness and his exemplary leadership. In his lifetime he never received the peoples’ thanks, but when he died the children of Israel wept for thirty days (Deuteronomy 34:8), and perhaps when he ascended to heaven the angels gave him the round of applause he so richly deserved.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
World Zionist Congress – Catching up and the Voting
So for the last two days with all of the meetings (and the lack of a reliable free wireless source in the hotel or the convention center) and various other things which have been going on, it has been impossible to get onto the internet to update the blog – I am sorry.
To bring you up to speed, I have been in and out of meetings for the last two days. Some of them specifically relating to our Arzenu group (and the Reform movement), and in others which have been as a part of our combined faction with Labour and Meretz. It’s been exhausting, as our meetings have begun at 7:30, and we have been working through until the late hours.
It has been eye-opening to see the way that Zionist politics works, and it has been especially interesting to see the ways in which different groups vote together on some issues, and in opposition on other matters.
Last night we also had the opportunity to hear President Shimon Peres and the Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat, as we celebrated 150 years since Herzl’s birth.
Right now, as I update the blog, we are voting in the resolution session, as the motions which were debated yesterday are being confirmed by a vote of all the delegates present at the World Zionist Congress. Right now a lot of the motions involve the rights of all streams of Judaism, and it is wonderful to watch as these motions, which we support, are being passed.
To bring you up to speed, I have been in and out of meetings for the last two days. Some of them specifically relating to our Arzenu group (and the Reform movement), and in others which have been as a part of our combined faction with Labour and Meretz. It’s been exhausting, as our meetings have begun at 7:30, and we have been working through until the late hours.
It has been eye-opening to see the way that Zionist politics works, and it has been especially interesting to see the ways in which different groups vote together on some issues, and in opposition on other matters.
Last night we also had the opportunity to hear President Shimon Peres and the Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat, as we celebrated 150 years since Herzl’s birth.
Right now, as I update the blog, we are voting in the resolution session, as the motions which were debated yesterday are being confirmed by a vote of all the delegates present at the World Zionist Congress. Right now a lot of the motions involve the rights of all streams of Judaism, and it is wonderful to watch as these motions, which we support, are being passed.
World Zionist Congress – Catching up and the Voting
So for the last two days with all of the meetings (and the lack of a reliable free wireless source in the hotel or the convention center) and various other things which have been going on, it has been impossible to get onto the internet to update the blog – I am sorry.
To bring you up to speed, I have been in and out of meetings for the last two days. Some of them specifically relating to our Arzenu group (and the Reform movement), and in others which have been as a part of our combined faction with Labour and Meretz. It’s been exhausting, as our meetings have begun at 7:30, and we have been working through until the late hours.
It has been eye-opening to see the way that Zionist politics works, and it has been especially interesting to see the ways in which different groups vote together on some issues, and in opposition on other matters.
Last night we also had the opportunity to hear President Shimon Peres and the Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat, as we celebrated 150 years since Herzl’s birth.
Right now, as I update the blog, we are voting in the resolution session, as the motions which were debated yesterday are being confirmed by a vote of all the delegates present at the World Zionist Congress. Right now a lot of the motions involve the rights of all streams of Judaism, and it is wonderful to watch as these motions, which we support, are being passed.
To bring you up to speed, I have been in and out of meetings for the last two days. Some of them specifically relating to our Arzenu group (and the Reform movement), and in others which have been as a part of our combined faction with Labour and Meretz. It’s been exhausting, as our meetings have begun at 7:30, and we have been working through until the late hours.
It has been eye-opening to see the way that Zionist politics works, and it has been especially interesting to see the ways in which different groups vote together on some issues, and in opposition on other matters.
Last night we also had the opportunity to hear President Shimon Peres and the Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat, as we celebrated 150 years since Herzl’s birth.
Right now, as I update the blog, we are voting in the resolution session, as the motions which were debated yesterday are being confirmed by a vote of all the delegates present at the World Zionist Congress. Right now a lot of the motions involve the rights of all streams of Judaism, and it is wonderful to watch as these motions, which we support, are being passed.
Monday, June 14, 2010
The World Zionist Congress – Being part of a world movement
In our joint faction meeting with Labour we heard today from representatives of our groups from across the world.
In Britain we Reform Jews are a minority within a minority – it can be difficult and sometimes demoralising. Being part of the Arzenu delegation at the World Zionist Congress is a reminder that we are part of an international movement, with members spread across the world. We have allies and supporters around the globe, and we need to find ways to work more closely together and to strengthen our bonds and cooperation. It is always refreshing and inspiring to see Reform Jews from across the globe.
We all face a range of different challenges and problems as a result of our different national contexts. But there are some challenges and problems which we all face together. Through cooperation and the sharing of ideas we can face the future together, and continue to advance the international message of Reform Judaism and Reform Zionism.
In Britain we Reform Jews are a minority within a minority – it can be difficult and sometimes demoralising. Being part of the Arzenu delegation at the World Zionist Congress is a reminder that we are part of an international movement, with members spread across the world. We have allies and supporters around the globe, and we need to find ways to work more closely together and to strengthen our bonds and cooperation. It is always refreshing and inspiring to see Reform Jews from across the globe.
We all face a range of different challenges and problems as a result of our different national contexts. But there are some challenges and problems which we all face together. Through cooperation and the sharing of ideas we can face the future together, and continue to advance the international message of Reform Judaism and Reform Zionism.
The World Zionist Congress – Arzenu, Labour and Meretz
This afternoon we had the first meeting of our new faction for the Congress. Our Arzenu group have spent the last few years negotiating with Labour to form a coalition, and more recently Meretz have joined us. This means that we will together be the largest group at the Congress, and it will further increase the influence we have.
This will be important for the work of the Zionist institutions, however, it is equally, if not more important in relation to what it means for our place in Israeli society. We in the Reform movement remain a small percentage within Israeli society, but we are the largest international stream of Judaism, and it is important that our voice is heard within Israeli society. With Labour and Meretz we share a broad vision of a Jewish democratic state, at peace with her neighbours, and built on values of social justice and pluralism. It is a partnership which is built on strong ideological foundations.
We in Arzenu have to use our voice, and strength, within the World Zionist Congress to help our Israeli Reform movement. Through this agreement we now have a formal partnership with two parties within the Israeli Knesset, which can only help in the further establishment and legitimisation of our movement here in Israel.
This will be important for the work of the Zionist institutions, however, it is equally, if not more important in relation to what it means for our place in Israeli society. We in the Reform movement remain a small percentage within Israeli society, but we are the largest international stream of Judaism, and it is important that our voice is heard within Israeli society. With Labour and Meretz we share a broad vision of a Jewish democratic state, at peace with her neighbours, and built on values of social justice and pluralism. It is a partnership which is built on strong ideological foundations.
We in Arzenu have to use our voice, and strength, within the World Zionist Congress to help our Israeli Reform movement. Through this agreement we now have a formal partnership with two parties within the Israeli Knesset, which can only help in the further establishment and legitimisation of our movement here in Israel.
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