"To be a teacher in the right sense is to be a learner.  I am not a teacher, only a fellow student."  (Soren Kierkegaard)

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A FEW PRE-SHABBAT WORDS FROM RABBI AARON

Sharing the Load 
The Revelation at Sinai is such a dominant component of Partashat Yitro - each of the commandments presents a rich potential for discussion. But before we get to the foot of the mountain there's a virtual transcript, a transformative interchange between Moshe and his father-in-law, Yitro. Yitro spent a day watching Moshe lead the people, and he decided that Moshe was in need of leadership coaching. "Lo tov hadavar asher atta oseh - the thing you're doing, the way you're doing it, it isn't good, it is not working....Navol tibol gam atta gam ha'am hazeh asher imach - you will surely wear out, along with this nation that is with you." These are blunt words. But Yitro could honestly claim that the critique was offered with loving support. Upon reuniting with Moshe, Yitro shared his great enthusiasm and joy for the Israelite  journey from slavery to freedom. He also brought an offering of Thanksgiving before Israel's God. Moshe knew that Yitro was not simply taking shots at his leadership style.

What was wrong with Moshe's way of doing things? "Vaya'amod ha'am al Moshe min haboker ad ha'arev..." The Israelites stood, they waited on line all day, they took a number. Moshe was a great person. He was a listener, he cared deeply. He really was a shepherd, and God was moved by that quality - enough to recruit Moshe for the position. But one person can only do so much. Some leaders, in their desire to get it perfectly right, prefer to handle the project solo. They are reluctant to hand it over to others because they worry about the project being done sloppily. They sense that others don't bring the same detail-oriented passion, they have been burned by people dropping the ball. In our own lives we can easily identify with Moshe's micro-management. He really wanted to make everything right for every single Israelite. But, as we know, when any leader insists upon holding the reins tightly, when they rebuff offers of assistance, the project's success will all be tied to that one individual. Yitro, in his emphasis upon a chain of command - officers of tens, fifties, hundreds, etc. - was urging Moshe to step back and take in the big picture. Moshe knew that his father-n-law was spot on in his assessment. That's why he urged Yitro to stay on. Yitro politely declined; he had his own path to pave. And so, Moshe, equipped with a terrific leadership blueprint [great outside consulting!], had to work on implementing Yitro's vision. I suspect that it was difficult. Throughout the wilderness narratives, Moshe Rabbeinu [our leader, our rav]  expresses a sense of isolation and feeling over-stressed. We begin to glimpse the staggering burden and the Israelites' constant harping almost immediately after the Parting of the Sea. The journey - filled with the perils of the unknown - will test Israel's leaders [Moshe, Aharon, Miriam], and it will also test the Israelites, and even God.

In our shul family, we have just welcomed a new crew of leaders who have taken the helm. They will benefit from the wisdom and sacrifice of those leaders who came before them and who have lovingly labored on our behalf. Sometimes those leaders felt the triumph of success, other times they felt isolated, misunderstood, unthanked. The journey is a testing ground. I'm not limiting my focus to Moshe and the Israelites. We could be discussing the ongoing efforts of our shul board. And we could ponder the many personal journeys that describe our own lives, the challenges we face as families, as individuals. What does Yitro teach Moshe, what does he teach each of us? No one can do it alone. The most fulfilling journey is shared. Our new shul president along with the board depend upon your support and your active commitment. You - shul members - are the ticket to successful fund raising, to stimulating educational events, to enjoyable and entertaining get-togethers, to a sense of family, and a sense of feeling at home. This is what Yitro meant when he said to Moshe, "if you do this thing [delegate responsibility to dedicated leaders] and God instructs you, you will be able to stand firm, and this whole people will their place in harmony."

Yitro didn't offer any guarantee of trouble-free success. Moshe and the people will know failure and disappointment. There will be bruised egos, petty grudges, well-meaning folks who, nonetheless, are difficult to get along with. All those features are standard equipment that comes along with the journey. Still, we are a family. We care about each other even when we sometimes feel let down or annoyed. We kvetch - that very tendency seems to be etched into our chromosomal inheritance, a set of embedded dominant murmuring genes of complaint - but we must also cheer our leaders on. These bonds of family - in all our imperfection - will strengthen us as we build  and enjoy the place we call home, a house of peace and harmony, Beth Sholom.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Aaron