What Made Moses a Leader?

Often, in order to pursue what’s truly good, a person must be willing to question the instructions and advice of those around them, including those of close family, the government, or one’s own parents.

G-d commanded all humanity to establish proper systems of justice and courts, to judge crimes according to the universal Seven Noahide Laws. The Torah does not support anarchy. And yet, as thinking beings, we aren’t expected to blindly obey any command until we’re certain it’s truly right.

The sociologist Max Weber identified three main reasons why people obey others or institutions:

1. Tradition – Because that’s how it’s always been. For example, children obey their parents because it’s customary and expected.

2. Bureaucratic Authority – Because they live in organized societies with leadership (a president, prime minister, or monarch). They obey simply because someone holds a certain title.

3. Charisma – People follow leaders whose passionate speech and influence inspire loyalty. For example, Brazil’s President Lula or, at a far more dangerous extreme, Adolf Hitler (without comparing the two).

A fourth form of control is by force, but Weber viewed this differently, since force alone lacks legitimacy. Citizens might obey laws out of fear (as in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq), not respect.

In many modern nations, respecting civil laws is a mark of being a good citizen. The Torah also commands us to obey state laws, as long as they do not contradict divine law. But we must remember that no modern constitution contains absolute truth. What’s truly good, is good for all, and the Torah reveals that goodness. The Torah stands above all human systems.

When it comes to obedience out of tradition, the Torah instructs us that we must honor our parents, but only when their requests don’t contradict G-d’s commands. If a parent asks their child to act dishonestly or violate Shabbat, the child must respectfully refuse. The same is true for bureaucratic and charismatic authority- we are not to obey laws or leaders when their guidance contradicts G-d’s will. This is the way to avoid repeating the terrible mistake of blindly following evil, as took place in Nazi Germany.

Interestingly, Moses, the greatest leader in Jewish history, did not fit into any of Weber’s models.
– He lacked traditional authority- he was not well known, as he had grown up away from the people.
– He had no bureaucratic power- Pharaoh ruled Egypt, and Moses never held official office.
– He was not charismatic- he was humble and struggled with speech.
– He didn’t use force to lead the people out of Egypt.

So what did make Moses a leader? The people recognized him as G-d’s messenger- a channel through which G-d communicated with them. Their greatness was in realizing that G-d transcends politics and power, and no earthly force, not even Egypt’s army, could block the divine plan. Those who did not accept this never left Egypt.

During the Holocaust, survivors have expressed that those who managed to resist, even in small ways, often had greater chances of survival. Even when death seemed inevitable, the belief that it was in G-d's hands- not the Nazis’- gave people dignity. Trusting in a higher moral order, knowing that G-d was suffering alongside them, provided them with inner strength to endure until the end.

Who can we trust to guide us on the right path? Even though the Torah contains the truth, we can’t fully interpret it on our own. For this reason, in every generation, there are true Torah scholars- wise and humble individuals who guide us safely.

For example, Yigal Amir, who assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, claimed he was motivated by religious faith. His fatal error was that he acted on his own, without consulting a reliable rabbi. If he had, that tragedy could have been avoided.

How can we know if someone is a true rabbi? It’s not enough for someone to simply claim the title. A trustworthy rabbi submits their personal opinions to the authority of the Torah, adhering to the chain of tradition passed down through generations. A true rabbi doesn’t invent- they transmit.

The chain began with Moses at Sinai, continued to Joshua, to the elders, and down through the ages. Every rabbi in that chain was endorsed by sages of the previous generation. No individual in that chain simply “appeared” one day and claimed leadership.

If someone tells you, for instance, that using electronics on Shabbat is permitted, you know they are not part of this tradition. Because every legitimate authority in the chain of tradition agrees that closing an electrical circuit is forbidden on Shabbat. Even though electronics did not exist in ancient times, the Torah gives us the tools to determine its status.

The Oral Torah instructs us to seek a rabbi we can rely on- because placing our trust in the right person is essential for living a life based on real, grounded values.

From the book "Dan's Journey to Find Meaning in Life" by Roni Dayan. To purchase the book at Hidabroot Shops, click here.