Ba’halotcha – Visionary Leadership

Leadership is challenging by nature. If you are looking for an easy path, it may be better to sit back and observe. In life, there are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who do not even realize what has happened!

Moses is often praised as a gifted leader, but like anyone carrying great responsibility, he knew deep frustration. After more than two years of enduring the Israelites’ complaints, protests, and personal attacks, he grew weary. In a moment of breakdown, Moses cried out to God, “Why have You dealt ill with your servant, and why have I not enjoyed Your favor, that You have laid the burden of all this people upon me?” (Num. 11:11). In response, God appointed seventy elders of Israel and told Moses, “I will draw upon the spirit that is on you and put it upon them; they shall share the burden of the people with you, and you shall not bear it alone” (Num. 11:17).

Rabbi Elie Spitz derives the following lessons from this dramatic confrontation between Moses and God:  “First, despair is a part of life.  Whether a simple Israelite or for Moses, the leader, there are low points in life. . . .Second, when we find a purpose that allows us to serve or inspire others, we find the endurance to deal with the challenges of life and reframe the way we see the world. . . .Third, we may need to listen, to trust, and to take direction to reclaim our path. . . .Fourth, protecting ourselves from burnout-the exhaustion of physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual responsibilities-require that we seek out support and delegate.”

Today, perhaps more than at any other time I can recall, there is a shortage of effective leadership at every level, from local communities to the global stage. For many reasons, capable people are stepping away from leadership roles, even within the synagogue. Like Moses, some have simply reached their limit. Others recognize the frustrations of leadership and choose to avoid it. Yet this moment of crisis need not be seen as a glass half empty, but as one half full. History shows that crisis can also bring renewal, fresh beginnings, and a revived spirit.

When Moses realized that at least seventy others shared his vision, his leadership was renewed. In Jewish life, when even ten people share a common vision, faith, and commitment, the support exists for a synagogue and community leader to guide Jewish life forward in the 21st century. We need dedicated men and women to step up. They are out there. Will you be one of them?

Rabbi Howard Siegel

PLEASE NOTE: I complete my 2-year tenure as Interim Rabbi on July 1, 2026. If you wish to continue receiving my weekly “Torah For Our Times” postings after July 1, please respond to this e-mail with your name and e-mail address. It has been my honor to electronically share this Torah learning with you!