Over the-nearly 20 years that I have served as spiritual leader of Congregation Tifereth Israel, I have often been asked to explain—in one sentence—what I do.
Yes, the role of a rabbi is to teach tradition, both written and oral. Rabbis share stories, history and laws contained in the Torah, attempting to link them to today’s world and circumstances.
Rabbis lead services, explain rituals, and often adapt them to changing times. But ultimately, when I’m asked what my job consists of, I condense it to one sentence suitable for tweeting:
“I am in the business of Jewish continuity.”
How many congregations have folded or merged in recent years because leaders have failed to embrace the basic idea of Jewish continuity?
The issue for many fading congregations is not “demographics,” but rather Judaism’s lack of imagination in creating a vision for the future.
It’s about—when developing a Purim schpiel, the yearly parody of the Purim story—leaving behind the music of the 50s and 60s and, perhaps, adapting the story to the music of Taylor Swift or Kpop Demon Hunters.
It’s about adapting Adon Olam to Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Ariana Grande or Bob Marley.
Where does this idea of continuity come from? In part, it emanates, from this week’s Torah portion, as we are introduced to Yitro—Jethro in English—a non-Jewish character who is Moses’ father-in-law.
In this week’s Torah portion, we receive the Torah from Mount Sinai, but before the Israelites arrive, Yitro has a message for Moses. He observes that Moses is carrying the entire burden of Jewish leadership on his shoulders.
As I imagine it, there is a lineup to consult with Moses from Glen Cove to Sea Cliff. Finally, when Yitro finally appears before Moses, he offers a bittersweet, even sarcastic, comment.
“What is it this thing you are doing to the people?”
Moses is puzzled. After all, he is devoting all his waking hours serving as the Israelites’ sole leader and judge.
He replies: “It is because the people come to me to inquire about God. When they have a dispute they come before me, and I decide between one person and another…” (Exodus 18:16.)
Jethro briefly ponders Moses’ total devotion to this job, and then replies: “The thing you are doing is not right. You will surely wear yourself out and these people as well.”
In reality, Moses, within his passion to serve, is leading himself and the Israelites towards a dead end, before they even receive the Torah.
Later in the Torah, Moses and his wife, Tzipora, separate. It comes after Yitro’s second warning that Moses needs to delegate, and perhaps spend more time at home. Indeed, Moses’ hard work and good intentions have come with a considerable personal toll.
Yitro suggests that Moses establish a hierarchy of judges. Let Moses take care of the big issues and delegate the smaller matters to those of “capable and God fearing character” who will settle issues which affect “thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”
Notes Jethro, “If you do this—and God so commands you will be able to bear up, and all these people too will go home unwearied.” (Exodus 18:23)
Moses listens to the advice of his elder, and in so doing assures the continuity of the Jewish people, even before the 10 Commandments arrive. Long before I entered the rabbinate, I used this biblical story to teach an important lesson within my management consultant business:
If we want our businesses, our congregation, and even our religion to survive, we must share the load. And when we do so, the continuity of our vision is secured.
When it comes to Judaism, by extension, we must open our communal vision to new leaders, who possess fresh insight in adapting Torah to current and future generations.
As we learn this week, Judaism grows best when we listen to the words of Yitro: We must extend the axis of leadership to diverse interpretations and perspectives.
There is a role for parents and grandparents too.
We can light Shabbat candles. We can assemble for Shabbat dinner. We can encourage the placement of a Tzedakah box in our home. We can teach our children and grandchildren to take over for us in reciting the Shabbat blessings.
We can join a congregation or a Hebrew school, which offer “fun, friends and learning.” But most of all, we must encourage current leaders to inspire new leaders.
This is a good time to be the rabbi of this congregation. The Cantor and I, and our leaders, have embraced the continuity model, constantly encouraging new leaders to share their vision for the future.
After all, we are in the continuity business.
More than anything, this week—in advance of the giving of the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai—we are inspired by Jethro a non-Jewish priest, who encourages us to consider that the continuity of the Jewish people rests within our capacity to share the load.
These new leaders may not think, pray or practice the way we did, but they are essential to the continuity of the Jewish people.
As Jews mission it is our communal mission to walk with God to help heal this broken world—each in our unique way. Indeed, every generation elevates us in some new way.
Continuity is achieved by listening to new ideas and perspectives. It also comes by modelling, like Moses, big Jewish values such as kindness, compassion, respect for tradition—and change.
And in so doing, the small things will take care of themselves. For as we have learned for thousands of years, when we focus on delegation and continuity, in the words of another non-Jewish prophet:
“Every Little Thing is Gonna Be Alright.”
Indeed, that is what we do.
Shabbat shalom, v’kol tuv.
Rabbi Irwin Huberman