Dear Friends,
As the Israelites wonder in the dessert they encounter ups and downs.
As mentioned last week Moses' leadership was challenged time and time again.
And so, the question arises what makes a leader a leader?
The Thora answers profoundly.
Just remember that it was Moses who grew up in Pharao's household.
The hardest thing for him to do must have been to turn against the place he grew up in.
The easiest thing for him to do must have been to continue to enjoy the privileged place he was surrounded in. In other words, turning a blind eye.
Last week we learned that the 70 elders became the leaders of Israel to assist Moses, because like Moses they could not bear the injustice of certain decrees. Decrees that were issued legally by government and ''leaders'' of the day.
What happened was that the officers recognized the cruelty of Pharao's decree and refused to obey it! 12 spies entered the land of Canaan to see the land of Israel. Ten of the spies reported back about the giants living there who were undefeatable and the exceptionally large fruits that feed these strong giants. Two of the spies disagreed. It was who Moses refused to obey the cruelty of the decrees of slavery and Egypt.
All of these people had some things in common. They resisted the cruel decrees and opinions of the majority and they saw a future with a different vision than the mainstream.
What they all had in common as well, was that they all became the leaders.
Now that we have learned about the way leadership is approached by the Thora we must ask ourselves questions regarding our current and future leaders. Who are the true leaders in our current times? A question we will adress in next week's Thora portion.
To conclude, the ups and downs Moses and the Israelites experienced in the dessert might well be a metaphor for our path in life.
And, when it comes to the ups we should celebrate!
Our Community will have the pleasure of having a Kosher restaurant this summer!
Ezra's Kosher Kitchen will open Monday the 3rd of July.
In July it will be open every day for lunch between 12.00 and 15.30.
Bete'avon! Bon apetit!
Shabbath Shalom
Shabbath Tefila at 10.00 followed by Kiddush and Tscholent!
Please join as we are one or two short for Minyan!
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