True Leadership

"The face of the generation will be like the face of a dog." (Tractate Sotah 49b)

With both the Republican & Democractic conventions behind us, and 2 months of non-stop ads and debates ahead of us, this week seemed like a good one to discuss politics & presidents. While most of us will be leaning toward Romney or Obama, I think many of us may also be thinking: "I kind of wish there was a 3rd guy." This sentiment is probably felt throughout the world, in every country. Every nation yearns for, and deserves, a just and wise leader who is strong for his people and has their best interests in mind. We know that, as great as democracy is, it has its faults. As Winston Churchill once wisely stated, as only he could: "Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." But in Jewish thought, what's the ideal? Looking back in history, the height of Jewish prominence - in wealth, respect, peace, and spirituality - was during the times of King Solomon. Following the leadership of his father King David, these kings led - not acting according to what the polls and media wanted, but according to what was right. In the Tanach, it is told that God spoke to King Solomon in a dream, and asked him to name one thing he desired: "The wisdom to discern how to judge truthfully" was his request.

A true leader, leads - always with the nation's best interests in mind. Of course there later came corrupt kings, and we know that nothing's worse than an evil person who has complete rulership, which is why democracy is important today. But we mustn't forget the ideal of a true leader, a king, which God Willing will reoccur in the times of Mashiach and the final redemption, speedily in our days. On the last page of the Talmudic book "Sotah" (written over 1500 years ago), a fascinating list of prophecies are stated regarding the era immediately preceding the time of redemption:

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MESSIAH INSOLENCE WILL INCREASE AND HONOUR DWINDLE; THE VINE WILL YIELD ITS FRUIT [ABUNDANTLY] BUT WINE WILL BE DEAR; THE GOVERNMENT WILL TURN TO HERESY AND THERE WILL BE NONE [TO OFFER THEM] REPROOF; THE MEETING-PLACE [OF SCHOLARS] WILL BE USED FOR IMMORALITY; GALILEE WILL BE DESTROYED, GABLAN DESOLATED, AND THE DWELLERS ON THE FRONTIER WILL GO ABOUT [BEGGING] FROM PLACE TO PLACE WITHOUT ANYONE TO TAKE PITY ON THEM; THE WISDOM OF THE LEARNED WILL DEGENERATE, FEARERS OF SIN WILL BE DESPISED, AND THE TRUTH WILL BE LACKING; YOUTHS WILL PUT OLD MEN TO SHAME, THE OLD WILL STAND UP IN THE PRESENCE OF THE YOUNG, A SON WILL REVILE HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER WILL RISE AGAINST HER MOTHER, A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD; THE FACE OF THE GENERATION WILL BE LIKE THE FACE OF A DOG, A SON WILL NOT FEEL ASHAMED BEFORE HIS FATHER. SO UPON WHOM IS IT FOR US TO RELY? UPON OUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

Besides for the amazingly accurate account of how teenagers will act toward their parents in the 21st century (I don't think even up until the 1950's, kids would dare talk back the way they can now to their Parents), as well as some of the other accurate prophecies mentioned, the Talmud states: "The face of the generation will be like the face of a dog." The great Rabbi, Yisroel Salanter, once explained this as follows: "The face of a generation is its leaders. How will they be like 'dogs'? When a man walks a dog, the dog is in front and the man is in back. To the uninitiated, it would seem that the dog is leading the master - for the master follows the dog! But the truth is, it is the master who pulls the leash from behind, forcing the dog to move where he wishes. It is the dog who constantly turns around to see where his master wants to go."

We see here the Torah's prophecy and insight into what life would be like today, with democratic leaders who lack backbone and conviction. We should vote with the leader whom we feel best exemplifies the qualities and positions we hold dear, while hoping and praying for the day when the Jewish people and the world at large, will have a leader who can truly lead us in the proper path for us in every way possible.

Shabbat Shalom!