This weekend marks the 100th day of Israelis in captivity in Gaza. There are still 129 people being held. Let me perfectly clear, the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023 were reprehensible. They need to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We were asked to particularly keep Hersh Goldberg in mind, so as I kneaded my challah this week that is who I was thinking of. #bring_hersh_home. Bring them all home now.
This week we will be treated by a presentation of Alden Solovy, a poet who writes as he calls them poem prayers. He was here at CKI last year on Tisha B’av. I read his material regularly because I would call him a modern day piyutan, a poet who writes liturgical prayers. For example…You need a prayer for healing of breast cancer? He’s got one. You need something about fetal demise? He’s got one. Almost any modern day crisis? He’s got one.
But he discovered early in the war he had no words. What happens when a poet has not words? Perhaps we will find out. And then he did find some. Here is one example fitting for today:
The Court of the Captives
One day,
The court of the captives
Will convene
Before the halls of power.
They will bring
Their torment and suffering
As evidence against us,
As evidence of our failure
To protect them,
As evidence of our failure
To redeem them
With speed and urgency.
On that day,
The court of the innocent
At the gates of heaven
Will join the chorus –
The newly murdered,
Babies and dreamers,
Parents and children –
Bringing their blood
As evidence against us,
As evidence of our failure
To protect them,
As evidence of our failure
To secure our land and our people.
On that day,
The court of the captives,
And the court of the innocent,
Will minister to each other
At the gates of righteousness,
Both in heaven
And on earth,
Offering torn cloth
Soaked in tears
To bind their wounds,
To bless the living,
And to console the lost.
Today,
Yes, today,
The court of the captives
And the court of the innocent in heaven
Convene,
Arraying the charges
Before us,
And wait,
Still wait,
For us to answer.
© 2023 Alden Solovy and ToBendLight
This week we learn from our parsha:
Pharaoh hardened his heart. Pharaoh was stubborn.
Our parsha today is set up for us to like the Israelites and dislike Pharaoh. After all we want Pharaoh to release the Israelites. As I type this I want to scream and I want Hamas to release the hostages.
We see Pharaoh’s stubbornness as negative. G-d apparently does too because in the later plagues, it is G-d who hardens Pharaoh’s heart. That makes many ask the question what happened to free will? In genesis
What does it mean to be stubborn. The dictionary definition says:
having or showing dogged determination not to change one’s attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so.
“a stubborn refusal to learn from experience”
The word stubborn implies a negative trait. Someone’s inability to give in, to change his or her ways, rules, ideals, beliefs. Dogged determination is good. It is how I got through rabbinical school. It is what enables me to run a marathon. Persistence is good.
As a leader, Pharaoh seems to do two things. He is interested in protecting his power. And he lacks an empathy for his people. Any of his people. When he turns around and goes back inside his palace, he does not seem to care about his people not having clean drinking water. As was pointed out in Torah Study this week, sadly. we can see echos of this in modern day leaders.
There are many styles of leadership, and many qualities good leaders should possess.
What qualities do good leaders possess: We could brainstorm that list:
- Dynamic
- Courage
- Knowledgable and smart
- Life long learner
- Visionary
- Good listener
- Good Communicator
- Lifelong learner
- Sense of humor
- Integrity
- Team player
- Accountable
- Respectful
- Solicits opinions
- Humble
- Sympathetic
- Empathetic and compassionate
- Kind
- Honest
- Authentic
- Self-aware
- Creative
- Flexible
- Accountable
- Resilient
Many of those characteristics are words you chose as your word last week to represent your year. (See last week’s post) They are also on the list from Vistage of leadership competencies.
But being stubborn is not on the list!
One of the older Junior Girl Scout Handbooks had several leadership styles. Each of you gathered today may be one of them, or a combination of them. Each of the leaders we see in today’s parsha, Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh, G-d also may fit these patterns:
Director: Gives very good direction and makes sure everyone does his or her job. Makes certain that rules are clear and that everyone is expected to follow them.
Coach: Uses a style that provides both direction and supervision but encourages the involvement of everyone. Will explain the work that lies ahead, discuss decisions and answer questions.
Supporter: Works with other members of the group to set goals and list steps to achieve the goals. Encourages everyone to make decisions and gives each member the help they need.
Delegator: Gives everyone a share of the work. Lets group members make decisions and take on as much responsibility as they can handle. Is there to answer questions, but wants them to take as much responsibility for their actions as possible
(Previous definitions from the The Guide for Junior Girl Scout Leaders, copyright 1994, New York, New York
Convener: Calls the group together, inspires, organizes
But again, stubborn is not on the list.
I believe I have a collaborative leadership style. I may have an opinion about what should be done but I try to bring people along with me. That’s why the decision today was made in conjunction with Robin and Gene for example. It’s why when there are halachic issues such as instrumentation on Shabbat on interfaith burials at Jewish cemeteries or even the use of Zoom, I write a teshuva, a responsa that I vet with other rabbis, at least three then I submit to the ritual committee for further discussion and opinions. That is one style of leadership.
Friday night I read a part of a charming children’s book, Snow in Jerusalem. It is a PJ Library offering and it features a Jewish boy and a Muslim boy both of whom live in the Old City of Jerusalem. Both of them are feeding a cat. Both of them think that the cat is their own. One of the best parts of PJ Library is the supplementary material that comes with it. In addition to some material on treating animals well which is a Jewish value, and information about Jerusalem, Yirushaliym, it contains a useful page on helping children deal with conflict. Perhaps this book and these our children will be the ones to find solutions to peace. Both our traditions pray for it, hope for it, demand it.
Later in the weekend I was studying the Song at the Sea with my Chai School students. I was reminded that while G-d is depicted as a G-d of war and G-d drowns the Egyptian chariots (and yes the horses), there is a midrash that teaches about the angels rejoicing and breaking out into song when the Israelites are finally safe. G-d isn’t pleased. With their rejoicing. “My creatures are drowning in the sea and you sing songs”.
What is happening in Gaza is tragic. There will be another two generations that will live in fear and something even worse than Hamas may emerge. .”
Sometimes I think there is no way that I can solve the crisis in the Middle East. I am just a small town rabbi. Then I think as a woman I do have the solution. So, here is my plea. It’s simple. Everybody. And I mean everybody. Put down your arms. Don’t be stubborn. Release the hostages. Now. Don’t be stubborn. Bring them home now. Don’t be stubborn.
Heather ends many of her classes with the phase, “Make good choices.” Make good choices. Now. Make peace now. Work for peace. Now. Please.