D’var Torah
Suzanne Darby
This week’s Torah portion, Korah, is named for the ‘chief villain’ who begins a rebellion against Moses. This is the first strong challenge to Moses’ leadership during the 40 years of wandering in the desert.
This portion was very timely for me. I have just finished several weeks of leadership training and found myself thinking about Moses and his leadership style.
Moses seemed to be an intuitive perceiver, focusing on the big picture and imagining big possibilities. Moses decision making process seemed objective and analytical. When dealing with the Hebrews, Moses definitely needed order and planning and was not very flexible. Moses reaction to the burning bush and reluctance to take on his leadership role, suggests to me that he was an introvert. Interestingly, the Myers-Briggs assessment would categorize him as an “INTJ”. According to this personality assessment, Moses was strongly independently minded. Seems right on the mark to me.
Examining other leadership traits, Moses had a clear vision, critical to all leaders, and shared that vision with his followers. He was both a good leader and a good follower, taking clear direction from the Lord and carrying out all directions immediately and precisely, with that one exception. Was he a democratic or autocratic leader? While fleeing slavery with the entire Egyptian army on their heels, does not seem like a good time to discuss solutions. An autocratic leader is called upon to take quick, decisive actions. However, Moses did learn to relinquish some control when the burden becomes too much, calling upon other elders to share the responsibilities.
Did Moses praise publically but criticize privately? Actually, No. Would he have been more effective if he had tried? That is an interesting idea that we could debate. Does he train his replacement? Yes, Joshua was appointed to take over the leadership. I think a clear case can be made that Moses exhibited the important behaviors for good leadership.
Now here came Korah to challenge Moses’ leadership. Korah wanted to know why Moses has been made the prime leader. He wanted to know why the community even needed leaders. He gathered many other tribe leaders to join him in his challenge.
What was Moses’ response? Did he sit down with the difficult members and discuss their differences? Not at all! Rather, Moses fell on his face. He called upon G_d, his boss, to clearly demonstrate who was in charge. Perhaps surprising, but in this case VERY effective!
I found these passages difficult. Since when is it so wrong to question our leaders that the challengers are swallowed up by the earth, burnt to oblivion, and struck with a plague? Very few Jews I know are shy about voicing their opinions. If you need any evidence, just come to one of our board meetings.
So what is so very wrong with Korah’s threat? Moses is a great leader, but not perfect.
Korah did not show any support for G_d’s vision. He did not seem concerned with improving the leadership or seeking better ways for the Hebrews to survive. He seemed only interested in gaining the role, the power and perhaps imagined glory. Moses even asked, “Hear me, sons of Levi. Is it not enough for you that the G_d of Israel has set you apart from the community of Israel and given you access to Him…”
True leaders understand that leadership is all about taking responsibility and additional burdens of work, with little or no tangible payback. The reward is found in the project done, the goal achieved.
We are blessed with a congregation full of strong leaders. When we accept the responsibility of a committee, a religious service, an oneg, a board position, a classroom, a fund raiser, a social event, we are demonstrating our leadership, our willingness to honor G_d by taking on the extra responsibility. Based on our experience and personality, each of us will approach that role differently. But all have and will continue to achieve amazing results, by studying and following G_d’s clear vision.
The lesson of Korah is well understood, here at Congregation Sha’are Shalom.
Shabbat Shalom