Introduction Message from Rabbi Spivack What Our Members Say Look Around Bulletin Directions Hebrew School		From the Rabbi's Desk Moses: A Leader for the Ages In this season when we contemplate the experience of the people of Israel at Sinai, I often wonder why Moses was chosen to be the intermediary between the Eternal and the Jews. Tradition gives many reasons. 1. He was a faithful shepherd. The rabbis tell us that when even one of his lambs went astray he would spare no effort to bring the little animal back to the herd so that it should not fall prey to predators. 2. He was compassionate. When he saw an Egyptian taskmaster beating an Israelite slave mercilessly, he slew the murderous slave driver to save the Israelite’s life. Thus he showed that his Jewish heart had awakened from the slumber that was the result of being raised in Pharaoh’s palaces. 3. He had a passion for justice and fairness. Moses pleaded with the Eternal, as did Abraham, to save the people from divine wrath after their disobedience. He was passionate enough for justice to take even the Eternal to task when the Ribono shel Olam threatened to destroy all the people for the sins of only some of the Israelites. 4. Moses was not arrogant. He is de-scribed as the most humble of men, but his humility did not stop him from being strong in the face of opposition and personal dangers. 5. He was a lawgiver. Moses seemed to be supremely interested in the administration of justice among an unruly multitude of ex-slaves. These were the traits that distinguished Moses from the rest. In this election year, might we use these criteria to enlighten our choices for our own leaders? ~ Rabbi Harold Spivack Excerpted from the June 2004 bulletin (PDF)

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