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Drash
for Shabbat Eikev We have recently begun the book of Deuteronomy. Moses knows his end draws near, and this is his swan song to the Children of Israel. He recounts not only the history of his leadership, but also lessons gleaned during times bountiful and lean. It’s a good book to read during a transition such as we have tonight, because it gives insights to ponder as we begin a new presidency for Temple Emanu-El. Moses’ successor has already been chosen, Joshua, a recognized man of valor. Still, to whom does Moses address his final words? He doesn’t lecture the spiritual leaders of the congregation, the Kohanim, and the Levites. Nor does he assemble the secular leaders, the tribal and clan heads and the judges. Finally, he does not directly address Joshua, his heir. Instead he talks to us as a whole, the Children of Israel, giving every man, woman and child the whole benefit of his wisdom, charging us as a unit to stay true to the paths in which he has lead us. That’s an important concept for us to remember. In a congregation this size, leading a huge task. I certainly don’t underestimate it. So who does it? As I see it, there are three different structures. First, there’s the Board, whom we’ve elected, and the Executive Committee, a smaller group of Board members. Together, they oversee the workings of the Temple. Leaders are obviously very important, and yes, congregations and nations and armies rise and fall under leaders. However, for a free people, Moses understood better than probably anyone in history that genius leadership goes round in circles without genius followers at all levels. While obviously important, leadership is by its very nature temporary; the people endure. I think Moses was on to this. What do genius followers look like? They fill in the unseen spaces at all levels, doing tasks that are often unseen and definitely unrewarded. They are there year in, year out, performing superbly at whatever level they find themselves, for the good of the whole. I suppose this might be mistaken for muddling along. My grandfather was a follower of genius: his 108th birthday would have been this week. He graduated Rutgers in 1922, where he and his friend Paul Robeson were both refused membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He joined General Electric when it was one of two firms in New York City which were hiring Jewish engineers. His career was both spectacular and undistinguished: he sold the electrical components for not only the George Washington Bridge but other notable city structures, trained many of the leaders of the company at the beginning of their careers with GE, and never understood why they rose and he didn’t. At least, until he was told point blank after 42 years it’s because he was Jewish. There’s a special place in my heart for genius followers. I like to think one reason GE is where it is today is because of him, toiling way down in the rank and file. It’s my good fortune that Linda Nadell is a close friend of mine - and many of you can say exactly the same thing! In my moments of frustration when things didn’t go the way I thought they should here at Temple, she’s always had one refrain for me: "Don’t ever forget, Mark: just remind yourself: this is MY congregation!" And that makes me think that Linda is on to this, genius follower thing too. Leadership comes and goes, genius or otherwise. Genius following is an art itself, and actually a safeguard in many ways. When the people are the Temple, as Moses envisioned - the structure just gives them a way to do their tasks that much more effectively. Thank goodness in this day and age, there’s no gentleman’s agreement they have to be unrecognized - although true to their nature, they’ll keep plugging along, even if they aren’t. Shabbat Shalom.
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