Leaders Reflect

The Parsha starts off with Moshe, the greatest leader in history, addressing the Jewish nation in his final speech. As he is recounting the events over the last 40 years, something unique stands out, in the fact that despite having every reason and opportunity to give Musser (i.e. rebuke) or show the people what they should have done better, Moshe does not take that path. Instead, he simply states the facts—what we did right, what we did wrong, and how we responded when challenges represented themselves.

Moshe could have easily used this platform to tell the people how they should proceed, but he chose a different approach. Rather than delivering a prime-time speech filled with criticism and his “fix-it” guide, he leads by example. He shows the people what happened, allowing them to see for themselves where they fell short and where they excelled.

This approach is a powerful lesson in leadership. True leadership is not about telling others what to do or how to live (I hope all the politicians, especially Republicans, Democrats and independents are listening to this). It is about guiding, setting an example, and, most importantly, giving them the people the space to reflect and learn on their own. Moshe understood that the most profound lessons are learned not through words but through self- awareness and personal realization.

We live in a world where it is easy for leaders to use their position to dictate the “right” way of doing things (just watch any lifetime achievement award speech, concession, or victory speech for context). Moshe teaches us that the most effective leadership comes from presenting the facts, without judgment, he empowered the people to look within themselves and grow.

As we go into Shabbat, let’s reflect on this approach and think about how we can apply it in our own lives. Whether we are leading others or simply guiding ourselves through the twists of life, let’s focus on showing the way through our actions rather than our words. Let’s inspire those around us not by telling them how to live, but by living in a way that they will want to follow.

Shabbat Shalom!