Perashat Va'era 5776

Perashat Va'era 5776

In Perashat Shemot which we read last week, there is an ending with a short note; giving a prelude to this week’s Perashat Vaera. Moshe and Aharon are indicted by their people for their “Failed Leadership” in reducing and mitigating the burden of slavery placed upon the Israelites. They, in fact, were accused of worsening the situation by making the Israelites “abhorrent in the eyes of Pharaoh and his servants…” In turn Moshe indicts G-d for His “Failed Leadership” when he accuses G-d of, “Causing evil to the people and not rescuing them.” Of course, G-d tells Moshe that, “Now you will see what I shall do to Pharaoh, for through a strong hand he will send them out and through a strong hand he will chase them out of his land.” 

The rest of the story we know well. It took seven plagues in this Perasha and three more in the next, plus a total devastation of Egypt, until Pharaoh and his people finally let the Israelites leave. The leadership of Moshe in Egypt was never questioned again, although it was questioned plenty in the desert. The leadership of G-d was never questioned again by Moshe, although the people did indeed question it in the desert.  The plan for the redemption from Egypt was in place even though the people were not able to see it at the beginning; they despaired and felt a failure in leadership.

Many times, our spectrum of vision is very narrow and we are not able to see the totality of one’s life span. However, since the leadership of Moshe, there have been many failed leaders and also leaders that failed in their responsibilities.  The Bible and the history of the world are replete with such failed leaders. Lessons that could have been well learned were overlooked and the same mistakes are often repeated.  

A failed leader may inconvenience some people.  His actions – or inactions - may delay some people’s progress a bit, may get people’s nerves irritated, and may cost them more money, etc.  But, for his constituents, his mistakes can impact upon their livelihood, their health, their sanity, and their overall lives. The greater responsibilities the leader has, the greater the consequences of his failed leadership. A failed leader can negatively affect the course of history, can ruin people’s lives and can destroy an entire nation and civilization. We recognize and admit that people make mistakes; however, mistakes committed by a leader have greater consequences than those of an individual.   A leader who stubbornly refuses to admit his mistakes and does not take responsibility for them, can bring devastation to his people and nation. 

As we look around us today, we see a world that is full of conflagrations, religious-sectarian wars, political wars, and revolutions. Looming threats by tyrannical authoritarians are menacing the entire world with devastation. Most are a result of failed leadership, a failed leadership by those tyrannical leaders and by those leaders who have the ability to stop them but don’t. The world appears to be going to the abyss, and yet these leaders don’t see, or refuse to see, their own mistakes and take responsibility for them.

Indeed, it is crucial for a leader to take responsibility in order to prevent ruin and devastation that may come to his people and civilization!

Moshe did that, with a steadfast defense of the People of Israel and their welfare.

Unfortunately, we are not ‘lucky’ enough to have the merit to have such leaders in our time.