J3: Leadership

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Three way biblical leadership

"Three good leaders arose [together] for Israel. They were Moses, Aaron and Miriam" (Talmud Ta'anit 9a) The combination of Moses, his brother Aaron and his sister Miriam, was a powerful leadership team that was highly successful in dealing with the Jewish people on their long journey from Egypt to Israel.

MOSES It was the job of Moses to educate the people into becoming a Godly nation. He was the analyst who had to deal with the peoples' everyday questions about how to live a Jewish life following God's rules and commands. Moses' leadership was set in the present, handling Jewish law and practice.

AARON When Moses didn't return from Mt. Sinai, the people panicked. It was Aaron who calmed them down. He was the diplomat who managed to direct their energies for a constructive purpose. He was much loved by the people and they mourned his passing for a long time. Aaron's leadership was derived from the past in that he was the eldest son who was most connected to the previous generation.

MIRIAM When the people were slaves in Egypt, It was Miriam who had the strength of vision to propel them forward. She was one of the midwives who ignored Pharaoh's decree and helped Jewish mothers to secretly give birth out of harms way. She was also the maverick who manipulated Pharaoh's daughter into adopting the infant Moses. Miriam's leadership was directed to the future in that she was confident of the release and final freedom of the people from slavery. She even arranged for the women to take musical instruments with them when they left Egypt for celebrating the moment of complete redemption. Her wish came true when they played and danced after crossing the Red Sea.

Each of these three types of leadership also had its downside. As a legal analyst, Moses found it hard to relate to the people's emotional fears and troubles. As a diplomat, Aaron found it hard to tell off the people when they were behaving badly. And, as a maverick, Miriam went too far when she spoke disparagingly of Moses and his wife.

"Three righteous people died in one year: Moses, Aaron and Miriam" (Sifrei 305) With this statement the Sages make it clear that they acted as a successful three-way partnership. Each covered for the other's shortcomings and, in the end, they succeeded in guiding the Jewish people from slavery to freedom in the promised land.

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