Humility and Leadership

Sometimes the burdens of leadership are obvious. Other times they are not. Sometimes leaders get all the credit they deserve. Other times they do not.

This week Moses is not even mentioned by name. He is called by name in every other portion from Exodus to Numbers, but not in this week’s. Furthermore, he is instructed to lavish honor on his brother, Aaron as well as his four nephews but not his own children or most especially himself. Moses must fashion Aaron’s priestly robes. He must honor his brother. The Torah commands, “You are to make sacred garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for splendor.” (Exodus 28)

Why is this Moses’ job? Why does the head honcho have to make sure Aaron has the correct outfit to perform his duties? Moses certainly has a lot on his plate. Why can’t Aaron take care of his own clothes? Why must others, and most especially Moses, dress Aaron and the priests?

It is because even the greatest of leaders must bow before the importance of Aaron’s role. As priest, he will reassure the people of God’s presence and care. The rituals Aaron performs offer comfort. Moses, on the other hand, is burdened with difficult decisions. He must be decisive, and sometimes even forceful. His job is to get the people to the promised land. Aaron’s role, on the other hand, is to offer reassurance along the way.

I wonder. Are comfort and reassurance the more important, and necessary, offerings? Is Aaron’s role more crucial than Moses’ pronouncements? Perhaps you cannot get to the promised land, perhaps you cannot accomplish the most difficult of goals if your hearts are not reassured.

Moses participates in accomplishing these in a quiet, behind the scenes manner. He does not command comfort. Instead, he stitches fabrics.

Often people confuse such humility with a lack of decisiveness. Perhaps the command to prepare his brother Aaron’s clothes serves as reminder to Moses. “You might think you’re a big shot, but everyone needs to do ordinary things. Moses, you do not always need to be the most important person in the room (tent).”

The task teaches the lesson. By tending to his brother, Moses learns. The tradition praises Moses for his extraordinary humility. The rabbis teach: “People who humble themselves, God exalts them. People who exalt themselves, God humbles them. People who seek greatness, greatness flees from them. People who flee from greatness, greatness follows them.” (Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 13b)

The rabbis preach to themselves. If you are humble and shun greatness God will take care of the rest.

Leadership is not always accomplished by fiery pronouncements. Sometimes it is learned by tending to others.

There is no job beneath any person. Every task, no matter how seemingly lowly, is imbued with holiness.