213. Oneg Shabbos Devorim

Page 1

Issue

213

‫בס"ד‬

‫הריני בא ללמוד תורה לשמה לעשות נחת רוח לאבינו שבשמים‬ ‫מוצאי שבת ר"ת‬

‫מוצאי שבת‬

‫פרשת דברים‬

‫ט' אב תשע"ט‬ 10 Aug 2019

‫קבלת שבת‬

JLM

MAN

LON

JLM

BMTH

GLSCW

GHD

MAN

LON

JLM

BMTH

GLSCW

GHD

MAN

LON

8.48

10.01

9.47

8.08

9.35

10.15

9.58

9.52

9.33

6.53

8.24

8.52

8.38

8.35

8.20

Rabbi Yossi Goldberg RTA The RTA is a two year post- Semicha programme to introduce newly qualified rabbis to the challenges of our modern world

WHO IS A LEADER? One of the benefits of being involved with the Rabbinic Training Academy is that we get to meet and hear from a wide range of public figures. Admirably, many of them share the passion to make a positive difference to Klal Yisroel in one form or another. In doing so - they are showing leadership. Let’s explore this further and begin with a simple question; what is leadership? From this week Sedra we can learn how Moshe Rabbeinu saw the essence of leadership. Moshe spoke to Klal Yisroel and observed: ‫ואמר אליכם בעת ההיא לאמר לא‬ )’‫“ אוכל לבדי שאת אתכם (א’ ט‬And I said to you at that time that I am not able anymore to carry you / lead you.” The Ramban explains that “‫”בעת ההיא‬ at that time refers to earlier when they were in Chorev. Moshe was saying, “Back then, everything was going to plan and we were preparing to enter Eretz Yisroel, but then the plan had to abruptly change because the Meraglim derailed everything. As such, I felt I couldn’t take being your leader anymore.” Rashi asks, how could Moshe have said that he couldn’t lead them anymore? Was

he not the quintessential, indefatigable leader who had been through so much?! After all, he was the one who led them out of Mitzrayim, through the Yam Suf, accepted the Torah and the list goes on! Rashi answers, when Moshe said that Hashem was “‫ ”הרבה אתכם‬increased you, he meant not in the enumerative sense of how many more Jews there were but in the “burdensome” sense. They had become too burdensome because of the way Hashem, instead of punishing the Jewish people punishes their leaders instead. As leader, Moshe had to take a knock - many times for the sake of his people. In simple terms, it had become too big a deal to be their leader anymore. Implied by this is a fundamental value that underpins any position of leadership. A leader is not merely someone in charge, someone who shows the way. A true leader is someone who takes upon himself the full responsibility for his people. Although it was not his main message here, perhaps Moshe wanted to say this to Klal Yisroel now, in order to lay the groundwork for the next leader who was going to replace him. He wanted to emphasise to all the need to better appreciate leaders and to realise the awesome level of responsibility that they take upon themselves. However, the lesson here is by no means limited to people with formal leadership positions. Rather, it is something for all of us to ponder. It ought to be a question that we, as Jews, as parents and as educators all ask of ourselves. It’s all too easy for us to pat ourselves on the back and to feel good

For questions on Divrei Torah, please email the editor Rabbi Yonasan Roodyn at editor@oneg.org.uk

N OW R E AC H

This weeks issue is dedicated in loving memory of

Ruth Irma bas Moshe (Hugo and Celine)

Lunzer 10th Av ‫ה‬.‫ב‬.‫צ‬.‫נ‬.‫ת‬

For more information about sponsoring an issue please contact sponsor@oneg.org.uk

To suggest an idea or a response to the ideas exchange please email ideas@oneg.org.uk

ING

45 0 0 P E O P L E

I N 24 C O U

To receive this via email please email subscriptions@oneg.org.uk

by saying, “We’ve done our bit”. But surely, we need to recognise that its simply not enough to do any limited amount. We need to ask of ourselves, do we actually live with a true sense of responsibility? Are we taking on board the full spectrum of needs of those whom are under our wing? Are we carefully consider our interactions and relationships with others and seeing how we can finetune them so that we have a better impact on those around us? As the Mishna in Avos (2:5) states, ‫במקום‬ ‫שאין אנשים השתדל להיות איש‬. When no one is stepping up to the plate to take responsibility, don’t shy away from it. Seek to take the responsibility upon yourself and get involved! We should all see ourselves as leaders. Not in the haughty sense of “I’ll show everyone how to behave” but rather in the sense of taking upon ourselves more responsibility for others and recognising opportunities to do more for Klal Yisroel. The cry for leadership is out there - Klal Yisroel face such a range of complex and difficult challenges. Leaders are those who hear this call to action and choose to act upon it.

N T R I ES

Yerushalayim, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Baltimore, Beit- Shemesh, Birmingham, Borehamwood, Budapest, Cancun, Detroit, Edgware, Elstree, Gateshead, Gibraltar, Glasgow, Hale, Henderson, Hong Kong, Ilford, Johannesburg, Lakewood, Larnaca, Las Vegas, Leeds, London, Los Angeles, Manchester, Melbourne, Memphis, Miami, Milan, New York, Oslo, Paris, Petach Tikva, Philadelphia, Pressburg, Radlett, Ruislip, Santiago, Sao Paulo, Stanmore, Southend, Tallinn, Tarzana, Toronto, Uman, Vienna, Zurich


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.