On Saturday January 9th Jewish congregations all over the world began the second book of the five books of the Bible, known in English as the Book of Exodus, or in Hebrew Sefer Shemot. This book famously tells the story of the beginning of the enslavement of the Children of Israel in Egypt and the birth of Moses, his flight from Egypt and refuge in Midian. In Midian he saves the seven daughters of Jethro from abuse at the communal well and ends up marrying Zippora, one of the daughters of Jethro. While working for his father-in-law as a shepherd, Moses experiences his vision of G-d at the burning bush, and is enlisted to be the one to save the Children of Israel from their servitude and lead them through the desert to receive the Torah and continue on to the Promised Land of Israel.
Although Moses is pre-eminently a teacher and in Jewish tradition is called “Moses Our Teacher,” he is certainly also a great leader who always showed initiative and moral integrity at the first sign of evil and/or immorality. His exile to Midian was due to the fact that he felt compelled to see with his own eyes the plight of his people, and then took action to help them when he killed the Egyptian who was beating a slave.
He then prevents injustice at the well when he takes the initiative and saves the seven girls despite the fact that he is a stranger and could easily turn the other way and not get involved. He is compelled to get involved by his personality and upbringing, a sign of a great, natural leader.
Finally, Moses learns to watch over and protect the vulnerable sheep that he is responsible for in preparation for the day he will be the great shepherd of the Children of Israel.
As a Rabbi steeped in the symbols, beliefs and history of the Jewish people, Rabbi Milton Balkany can recoginize leadership qualities in the political and government leaders in today’s world. When Rabbi Balkany blesses, praises and encourages our modern day leaders he surely has the example and great role model of Moses in mind.