Leadership is a tricky role; by definition, one is not a leader if they aren’t out in front and leading. However, a leader also has to know his or her constituents - it wouldn’t help if the leader is so far ahead that they end up all alone. They would no longer be leaders in that circumstance either. In other words, one could be an ineffectual leader either because they’re not leading or because they’re leading by too much.
This is true about innovation too - there are many amazing technology companies that failed early on, only to be followed by another company, providing virtually the same service or platform that becomes wildly successful. It’s not because the idea was bad - ultimately it was highly successful - it’s because the timing was off. They were too early and the market wasn’t ready for it yet.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, OBM, former Chief Rabbi of the UK, explains that this is exactly what Moses is highlighting when asking G-d to choose his successor (as discussed in this week’s Torah Portion).
Moses asks G-d to appoint a leader who “will go forth before them and come before them, who will lead them out and bring them in.” The verse seems to repeat itself, that is until you look a little closer: “will go forth before them and come before them,” this leader needs to lead. But this leader needs to also ensure that the people are following “who will lead them out and bring them in.”
Great leaders push people beyond their perceived limits. But great leaders can also provoke some resentment when people aren’t ready to follow.
The Jewish people have been collectively charged by G-d to lead the world to a better place. To make this world more in tune with the Divine, until we usher in the era of Moshiach and our world will permanently be transformed to goodness.
We’ve been at this work for a few thousand years, and in the interim it’s provoked the enmity of many an antisemite. The fact that there is antisemitism shows us that we’re accomplishing something. The fact that it has far, far less traction than it once did means that we’ve almost accomplished our goal.
We’re not too far ahead, the world is ready. In fact, more people today than ever before are searching for depth and meaning. We have the tools of elevating and refining this world and we need to share them.
Torah provides guidance and perspective, we need to study it and be sure to share what we learn with others. We’ve been tasked with a mission; it’s our responsibility to lead. When we do, the world will be all the better for it.