(For Hebrew, click here.)
Imagine the following situation.
You lead a team in a complex project, you're laboring away... then one day your manager calls you to their office.
They tell you: I have bad news, and good news.
The bad news is that management is unhappy with the project's progress.
Your team is dysfunctional, and is not delivering the desired results.
The good news is that management is convinced it is not your fault.
You are performing very well – it is just your team that is horrendous.
After some brainstorming, management decided to let go the entire project team – but you get to keep your job.
In fact, management will build a new, super-talented team around you!
What would be your reaction? Would you agree? or not?
Would you try to negotiate the proposal with management?
We can possibly learn a leadership lesson from the first leader of the people of Israel - Moses.

In the book of Exodus (source), we are told of Moses ascending Mount Sinai to receive the Torah from God. Later in the book (source), we are told of what happened at the camp of the people of Israel as Moses was preparing to descend from the mountain with the Torah.
As it happens, at that very same time Moses is on the mountain to receive the Torah, parts of the people of Israel sinned by making the Golden Calf – apparently worshipping it as an Idol.
In response, God turns to Moses and tells him in no uncertain terms - this nation (the people of Israel) is stiff-necked. If you just let me, I will destroy this nation, and from you I will build a great, mighty and numerous nation.
In the book of Deuteronomy, which recounts many of the events that happened to the people of Israel in the desert, this story appears again (source), and we are offered and even clearer perspective.
In essence: Moses is on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, learning the Torah, reaching super-human spiritual levels, preparing to return to the people and continue leading them to the Promised Land - and at that very same time - parts of the people of Israel sin with the Golden Calf.
In response, God says to Moses - this is a stiff-necked people, and offers Moses to "replace" the nation with a more successful one.
It's difficult to grasp the complexity of this event - but Moses's response is very interesting.
He doesn't say - "What about my wife? What about our children? My brother? My nephews?" - he simply immediately opposes the whole idea of replacing the people, prays, pleads before God to cancel this thought, and succeeds.
What is the Torah trying to teach us through this story? What did God want from Moses?
I think this was Moses's great trial.
For it is easiest to let others bear the blame and think that "we" are fine.
That only "they" are responsible for the failure.
** It's important to note: I don't presume to present the divine perspective, or interpret what God "really" meant in his words to Moses; only to say that from a human perspective, this is a possible interpretation of what Moses experienced.
But God is essentially saying to Moses: I understand. You know how to be super-spiritual. You know how to be in heaven and study Torah without eating or drinking for forty days and forty nights.
But to lead, to be a leader of humans, you need to be able to be human.
You need to recognize your people's weaknesses, and be able to work around them and lead them to the next goal.
Can you do that?
So you'll be given an "exit". An escape strategy.
We'll offer you to replace the people. Let's see what you'll do.
Will you accept the offer? Will you consider it?
Will you negotiate and ask to also save your wife and children, brother and family?
If so, then maybe you're an super-human - but you're not fit to lead humans...
Because someone who doesn't take responsibility for their people, "own" their actions (for better, but typically for worse), and know how deal with them - is not a true leader.
Moses shows God that indeed he knows how to be an super-human - but also knows the price of being human.
Of being a true leader.
One does not replace a people. Even when it's difficult. One does not negotiate the details of the offer.
One doesn't even consider such an offer.
A true leader stands up for their people, and goes down to deal with the problems.
They take responsibility, own the situation - and act to fix things.
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