I wrote this on Tuesday, knowing the Kadima office would be closed the rest of the week. Many things occupied my thoughts at the time: the continued fallout of last week’s US presidential debate, the US Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, the challenges to Israeli PM Netanyanu, and prepping for a Kadima b’mitzvah for this week’s parashat Korach, to name a few.
And I cannot help but look at the ways these are connected. Parashat Korach is entirely about challenging leadership. Korach, Datan, Aviram, and On emerge to call out the leadership of Moses and Aaron:
“You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and Adonai is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above Adonai’s congregation?” (Numbers 16:3)
Many of our modern day leaders do go too far, and need checks and balances in order to ensure they do not. While Korach and his crew are noted in Jewish tradition as an example of a way of challenging leadership ineffectively, each year we read this parasha, we are reminded of the importance of finding effective ways to do so.
And there are many ways to respond when challenged. Moses’ response was to fall on his face, upon which 13th century French commentator Chizkuni said “he fell upon his face – he was ashamed and put his face on the ground in order to offer a prayer. He hoped to receive a revelation from G-d how to confront this challenge.” Meanwhile Ibn Ezra, the 11th century Ibernian Peninsula rabbi says that “falling on his face” was referring to his receiving prophecy.
As we consider leadership, the ways it is challenged – often so rightfully so – we are also in a moment where the ability to challenge leadership took a hit this week. As the experiment of democracy in the United States turns another year older, let us not forget the tradition that parashat Korach teaches us: leaders are not above the rest of us.
May leaders everywhere find ways to humble themselves, accept challenges with grace and reflection, and move forward having reassessed if their leadership is fit for the moment, and the moments to come.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
And I cannot help but look at the ways these are connected. Parashat Korach is entirely about challenging leadership. Korach, Datan, Aviram, and On emerge to call out the leadership of Moses and Aaron:
“You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and Adonai is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above Adonai’s congregation?” (Numbers 16:3)
Many of our modern day leaders do go too far, and need checks and balances in order to ensure they do not. While Korach and his crew are noted in Jewish tradition as an example of a way of challenging leadership ineffectively, each year we read this parasha, we are reminded of the importance of finding effective ways to do so.
And there are many ways to respond when challenged. Moses’ response was to fall on his face, upon which 13th century French commentator Chizkuni said “he fell upon his face – he was ashamed and put his face on the ground in order to offer a prayer. He hoped to receive a revelation from G-d how to confront this challenge.” Meanwhile Ibn Ezra, the 11th century Ibernian Peninsula rabbi says that “falling on his face” was referring to his receiving prophecy.
As we consider leadership, the ways it is challenged – often so rightfully so – we are also in a moment where the ability to challenge leadership took a hit this week. As the experiment of democracy in the United States turns another year older, let us not forget the tradition that parashat Korach teaches us: leaders are not above the rest of us.
May leaders everywhere find ways to humble themselves, accept challenges with grace and reflection, and move forward having reassessed if their leadership is fit for the moment, and the moments to come.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
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