Moses and the power of servant leadership: A lesson from Leviticus

Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26

There are those who think that leadership and hierarchy entail, by definition, yelling and screaming and threatening. Some think that beating down everyone is the way to elevate the leader. That is one way. It’s a pretty bad way to do things but it is a popular method by those who don’t care about subordinates or who think short-term gains are better than long-term success. We have an interesting suggestion of a better way from Moses as we start the book of Leviticus.

One would think Moses wouldn’t object to anything God says. It’s a pretty clear hierarchy. There’s God, who is God, and there’s Moses, who is very much not God. Therefore, God calls and Moses answers. Very top-down. But there is another form of leadership called “servant leadership,” which is more mission-focused, more results-focused, with less yelling.

Let’s look at the first word of the parasha: Vayikra. “And He called ….” The root for the word God used is and means “to call, cry out, proclaim.” Big words, dynamic words, powerful words. It shows a kindness and a great love that God would announce Moses this way. Rashi says that word shows affection. Now, let’s face it, if God is addressing you in this way, it is pretty clear to everyone that you and God are tight. Nobody would dare push back against you. But Moses, another
commentator offers, didn’t want this. There is another word used for other prophets, Bilaam for one, that uses the root . Can you see how that is similar? In Numbers 23:4 that word is used to mean God “happened upon” Bilaam, or “encountered” or even “communicated reluctantly.” All of this is decidedly low-key and not anything like God calling forth to Moses.

Moses didn’t like to be called in such a fancy way. Jacob ben Asher (died c. 1340, Spain) in his commentary suggests that Moses wanted to be introduced with more humility, without such fuss, like Bilaam. God instead insisted on proclaiming Moses with great love. Well, Moses really couldn’t say no to God but he could still make his point.

In the Torah text when you go to the word you will see that the is small, about half the size of a regular letter. If you are not paying attention and miss that little you might read the word as that other word for “happened upon.” And if you do spot the small you catch the message that Moses was in effect saying, “Thank you for the great honor of being called in such a way but let’s not make a big fuss over it, shall we?”

Moses wasn’t interested in great bombastic fuss over his position. He wanted something more subtle. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t aware of his position or appreciate his place of authority. It means that his focus wasn’t on himself, it was on his people. Moses was a servant leader, someone who accepts the responsibility of leadership in order to help the people. Servant leaders are strong and will hold people accountable for the sake of advancing the mission because advancing the mission helps the people. Servant leaders might get paid a lot, they might have a nice office, they might get great perks, but they never forget that they are in that position of leadership in order to help people.

Servant leaders care about their workers, care about their customers. Servant leaders have the humility to know that bold action is not for self-aggrandizement but to uplift people.

Moses will continue to be strong and brave as we go forward but it is always in the service of his people, our people. May more of us learn to be humble in our leadership, to be bold and strong for the sake of others. PJC

Rabbi Larry Freedman is the director of the Joint Jewish Education Program. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association.