Now three months away from election day here in Israel, we, as a community, need to think seriously about what we want our leadership to represent and how we want our government to function.   Giving thought to these questions now may help us decide who is best qualified to lead and what the mandate of leadership should be.  It is a thought process that over the years of declining democracy worldwide, too many people have simply abandoned that assessment process to the detriment of all.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of blessed memory, whom many of us consider to have been the voice of morality of our generation, viewed political leadership not as the quest for power it seems to have become, but as a moral responsibility centered on service, covenant, and the creation of hope. He argued that true leadership empowers others rather than controls them.

 True leaders serve the people they lead. Sacks contrasted hierarchical, pyramid-like power structures with service-oriented leadership that lifts others up. Towards that end he pointed out that a great leader encourages leadership in others.  As an example, Moses himself modeled this by involving the entire community in building a shared vision, shifting people from argument as a first response to informed cooperation.

In addition, leadership requires offering a compelling, shared vision of the future that inspires trust and overcomes despair.

Sadly, in today’s world it is a real challenge to identify anyone who embodies the qualities Rav Sacks described.  For sure, there are autocratic leaders who have a vision but, sadly, don’t see themselves as serving anyone but........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)