Moshe Rabeinu: The Jewish Leadership Role Model for All Times
Moshe Rabeinu was the first appointed leader of Israel. His Divine selection places him as what the ideal leader should be in the eyes of HaShem. It would surely stand to reason that at anytime the need arises for someone to lead Israel, the prospects should be vetted against Moshe Rabeinu’s qualities and qualifications. Although, no one will ever equal Moshe Rabeinu, at least the one who comes the closest should be given the greatest consideration.
However, because Chazal have given Moshe the title Rabeinu for all ages and not any other title like King or Supreme Leader, it would come to underscore that Moshe’s leadership qualities and qualifications are appropriate to emulate for all who aspire to become Rabeyiim and Rabonim. In fact, we can understand that Rebeyiim and Rabonim and all who dedicate their lives as Klei Kodesh, who have accepted the responsibility to raise the next generation to be worthy to greet Moshiach Tzidkeinu, all fall into the category of “Torah Leaders”. Therefore, almost all of us should take it upon ourselves to study everything that the Torah and Chazal say about Moshe Rabeinu as they prepare for their leadership role.
A good place to start the analysis is at the beginning of Moshe Rabeinu’s life. Beyond the natural aspects of his personality, what he was born with, his roots and seemingly latent qualities that were evident at birth, a review of what and how he was nurtured is essential. As such, the daughter of Paroh played a key role in the development of Moshe Rabeinu even though his mother, according to Chazal played a significant role in raising him in the Palace of the king. Basya, Paroh’s daughter gave the baby the name that he would be known by for eternity. Since a name is Divinely inspired and it truly reflects the person, then the name selection needs analysis.
The Torah tells us that Basya called him Moshe because she wanted to emphasize how she saved him, “because from the water I drew him out”. The Chizkuni and the Seforno both comment that based on Basya’s reason for calling him Moshe his name should have been Mashui and not Moshe. They explain that grammatically Mashui means to be drawn out whereas Moshe means to draw someone else out. Basya drew the baby from the water therefore she should have called him Mashui. They explain that by her drawing him out, (saving him) he would eventually become someone who draws out, saves others. It means, through Basya’s action of providing him with an experience of being saved, he grew up to be the supreme savior of Israel of all times.
The commentaries of the Chizkuni and the Seforno require further explanation. Moshe Rabeinu experienced being saved at the age of three months old. Intuitively it does not make sense that the life saving event ever registered in Moshe Rabeinu’s psyche to the point that he could or would emulate her actions. We can conclude that either Basya’s effort to save Moshe Rabeinu went beyond the initial drawing him out but it included keeping him safe in the palace of a horrible and wicked king. Alternatively, we could surmise that Moshe Rabeinu’s mother and sister made him very aware of the events that took place as a baby. Either approach, Moshe grew up understanding that to be a savior, a leader of people who will save, lead and protect, he had to emulate Basya.
After Moshe Rabeinu grew up we get our first glimpse of the profound message gleaned from the woman who saved him and protected him throughout his entire childhood. Although, Moshe Rabeinu grew up in opulence and luxury in the palace of the most powerful man in the world, he chose to go out to the slave pits where his brethren worked and suffered terribly. He was so moved by what he saw that he began to share their burden by helping them. In a way, Moshe Rabeinu followed in the footsteps of Basya, the daughter of Paroh. Chazal say she walked away from her lofty status to convert and she risked her life to protect Moshe Rabeinu. Basya saw and felt the suffering of the Yidden in slavery and the deep pain of the Jewish mothers whose sons were being murdered. Basya displayed great empathy. She was able to place herself in the lives of the Yidden. Moshe Rabeinu learned the powerful middah of empathy from Basya and it brought him to a level of compassion that entitled him to become Moshe Rabeinu.
Empathy is not a natural instinct. The vast majority of people need to learn the trait. It’s best taught as most traits are when children are very young. Unfortunately, today there is a great lack of emphasis on empathy. We know this from the serious problem of bullying that impact all corners of our machaneh and society in general. The lack of empathy among adults has led to a significant increase in divorce and dysfunctional home situations and negative environments in many school classrooms. Let’s do some empathy introspection, all of us who fall into the category of leaders and future leaders, the children we are responsible for. If we find the need for training, let’s do it.
A gut Shabbos