D'varim

Deuteronomy 1:1−3:22

Attributes of a Leader

Moses shares his views on leadership. 

By Rabbi Lewis Warshauer

Much of the Book of Deuteronomy is taken up with Moses' farewell address to the Israelite nation.

He has served his people as their leader in every sphere: military, administrative, judicial and spiritual. Now, he reviews the events of the 40 wilderness years, and presents, from his own perspective, a report of how he has led the nation.

Moses does not offer a dispassionate review of the past; to the contrary, he rebukes the nation for its failings.

It falls to midrash to examine Moses' words and not only offer interpretations of his meanings, but to construct leadership principles based on what he has said and done. A number of midrashim, taken together, use Moses as an example of what constitutes ideal leadership. Three components stand out: his views on what a leader must avoid; on the necessity of many people sharing leadership tasks; and on the core attributes of a leader.

In response to the question of what right Moses had to rebuke his people, one of Moses' earlier statements is cited. When Moses defended himself against charges of self-interest leveled at him by the rebellious Korah, he replied: "I have not taken a single donkey, nor done evil to anyone." (Numbers 16:15) This midrash, in other words, emphasizes what a leader must not do; one must not use a position of power to steal from the populace or otherwise harm them. (Deuteronomy Rabbah 1:5) This is to politicians what the Hippocratic oath is to physicians: first, do no harm.

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