Leading with Compassion

"emphasizing humility, compassion, and service to others"

In the parasha of Bamidbar we read a list of names of individuals who were the heads or leaders of the various tribal families. The Torah tells us that these men were to assist Moshe and Aaron with the census of the people. This census included men from the age of twenty who could be part of the army. This particular census did not include the members of the tribe of Levi; their responsibility was the care and guarding of the Mishkan.

What type of leaders were these men? The Torah does not tell us much about these men who were chosen to assist with this census. However, the Torah does give us a couple of examples of leadership styles. One style of leadership is servant leadership. This type of leader emphasizes humility, compassion, and service to others. Other attributes included in this style of leadership are altruism, a strong positive influence on people's lives, strengthening communities, and exhibiting a high level of emotional intelligence.

One of the most famous examples of servant leadership in the Torah is the story of Moshe. Despite being chosen by HaShem to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, Moshe never saw himself as the ruler or the authority figure. Instead, he saw himself as a humble servant of HaShem and the people. He was willing to listen to the people’s concerns and to advocate on their behalf, even when it meant challenging the authority of Pharaoh.

Moshe had great compassion, love, and concern for his people. He did not care about his position or his title. He pleaded to HaShem on behalf of the Israelites numerous times. When HaShem told Moshe that He would destroy the Israelites and make a great nation from him, Moshe asked that his name be blotted out also if HaShem destroyed the Israelites.

Yosef was another example of a servant leader in the Torah. As a slave in Egypt, Yosef was always looking for ways to serve his master and improve the lives of those around him. Even after he became the second in command to Pharaoh, he continued to act with humility and compassion. He was able to save many lives in Egypt and the surrounding countries during the famine.

In contrast to servant leadership, there is positional leadership, which is based on position or a title. Unlike a servant leader, who leads through influence, the positional leader often uses the power and authority of the position to control people and make them follow him or her. This style of leadership can be effective in some situations, but it can also lead to abuse of power and a lack of concern for the needs of others. Sadly, there are many examples of this type of leadership in history as well as today.

I have compared and contrasted two styles of leadership, servant leadership, and positional leadership. Overall, the Torah emphasizes the importance of servant leadership as a way to promote compassion, humility, and service to others. By following the example of Moshe and other servant leaders in the Torah, we can become more effective leaders and make a positive impact on our communities and the world.