Yitro
Leadership: It Takes a Village
Inspired by Rabbi Avroham Gordiner
Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law, and the religious leader of
the nation of Midian, comes to meet the Israelites. Yitro teaches the
overwhelmed leader Moshe how to delegate responsibility, and helps Moshe set up
a system of governance that will work for the Israelites. Yitro also affirms
the religion of Israel as his religion.
But why does Yitro himself not take on a permanent position
of leadership in Israel? After all, it is Moshe's style to make leadership a
family affair, as he relies heavily on his siblings Aharon and Miriam.
Perhaps Yitro is quite advanced in years, and prefers at
this time in his life, to work as a consultant. Perhaps he is modeling good
leadership for Moshe: train your helpers, and then step back and let them do
their jobs. Perhaps Yitro has leadership responsibilities at home. Perhaps, as
one Midrash teaches, he returns home in order to teach new religious
perspectives.
Perhaps, as another Midrash teaches, Yitro comes to his new
faith only after empirical demonstration of God's power against Egypt. And this
kind of faith is not a strong enough example to lead the Israelites in a time
of wilderness ups and downs. The Israelites need inspiration from someone who
can model hope, even in difficult times.
Leadership
includes governance, teaching, inspiring - and perhaps it is rare for one
person to be able to do all. Even great leaders like Moshe and Yitro could not
do it all. It takes a team!
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