Parshat Bo
When we think of the leader of the Israelites during the their exodus from Egypt, we think of Moses. It is Moses who feeds, nurtures, and guides the people of as he leads them in their 40-year journey from Egypt to Israel. However, if we are honest, the Torah tells us that the leadership of Israel was a team effort. Moses leads with the help of his sister, Miriam, and his brother, Aaron.
When Moses confronts Pharaoh, it is together with Aaron, who plays a major role in performing the miracles and bringing on the plagues that force the release of the Israelites. When God commands Israel for the first time it is addressed “to Moses and to Aaron”—a phrase that often appears in the Torah amidst the many “God spoke to Moses” phrases. When the people complain, it is “to Moses and to Aaron”, and when the cross the Red Sea, Miriam leads the women and when she dies the people stop for seven days in honor of her role as their leader. Leadership was a shared endeavor.
That's true of leadership today. No one accomplishes tasks on his/her own. We work together to make things happen. Governments are run by more than just presidents or prime ministers. There are congressmen/women, senators, judges, advisers, assistants, cabinet members, lobbyists, private citizens. The list goes on and on. It wasn't just Moses who led the people out of Egypt. It was a collaboration of him and his siblings.
Think about someone who is a leader in your life. Now think about who else may be part of this person's leadership team. Leaders need the help of others-- just like Aaron and Miriam who helped Moses throughout the 40-year journey in the desert.
Discuss different leadership teams with you family and record your discussion below.
When Moses confronts Pharaoh, it is together with Aaron, who plays a major role in performing the miracles and bringing on the plagues that force the release of the Israelites. When God commands Israel for the first time it is addressed “to Moses and to Aaron”—a phrase that often appears in the Torah amidst the many “God spoke to Moses” phrases. When the people complain, it is “to Moses and to Aaron”, and when the cross the Red Sea, Miriam leads the women and when she dies the people stop for seven days in honor of her role as their leader. Leadership was a shared endeavor.
That's true of leadership today. No one accomplishes tasks on his/her own. We work together to make things happen. Governments are run by more than just presidents or prime ministers. There are congressmen/women, senators, judges, advisers, assistants, cabinet members, lobbyists, private citizens. The list goes on and on. It wasn't just Moses who led the people out of Egypt. It was a collaboration of him and his siblings.
Think about someone who is a leader in your life. Now think about who else may be part of this person's leadership team. Leaders need the help of others-- just like Aaron and Miriam who helped Moses throughout the 40-year journey in the desert.
Discuss different leadership teams with you family and record your discussion below.