The alef of leadership

Here in South Africa, our national treasure continues to be the late Nelson Mandela. The status and respect he enjoys even after his death are legendary. To have suffered imprisonment for 27 years and still come out preaching peace and reconciliation is nothing less than awe-inspiring. But those who knew the man knew him to possess a genuine humility.

Many years ago, my family bumped into then-President Mandela while he happened to be going for a walk near our home. He took the time to stop and chat with the children, asking each of them about school and their favourite subject. Then he carried on walking the next two blocks while holding the hands of my two young children, just like a loving zayde. How many presidents or prime ministers can you see doing that when they’re not running for election?

In Mandela, we saw a leader who was as humble as he was great.

The beginning of the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) features an interesting lesson in humility.

The very first word, “vayikra” features a smaller-than-usual alef. Tradition teaches that Moses had initially written the Hebrew word without the alef at all, which changes its meaning. Vayikra means “and he called”, whereas without the alef, it reads vayikar, “and he chanced upon”, which is the way G-d communicated to the heathen prophet, Balaam, rather than approaching him deliberately and lovingly as He did with Moses. G-d, however, insisted that Moses write the word vayikra with an alef, so he had no choice. But he used a small alef which is almost indiscernible, reflecting his true humility.

Today, fame and recognition seem to be the keys to success. We have our fair share of self-appointed celebrities with millions of “followers”. Often, these are individuals with absolutely no claim to fame whatsoever, but they know how to market themselves. To become world-famous in the digital age, all you need is confidence, chutzpah, and … a publicist.

But thankfully, we’re beginning to hear some intelligent divergent voices.

Author Malcolm Gladwell has much to say about the downfall of the overconfident. His illustrations range from upsets on the battlefield to meltdowns in big business. According to Gladwell, “Being humble should be a qualification, not a disqualification, for picking a leader.”

Indeed, the contemporary successful chief executive is more likely to be appreciated for his humility than respected for his hubris. He or she will be more communicative, will lead by consensus, and will be a team player rather than a controlling unilateralist.

The Torah states categorically that the Almighty Himself declared Moses to be “the humblest man on the face of the earth”. The commentators explain that although Moshe was the most powerful leader in history, who took the Israelites out of bondage, who split the sea, and received the tablets from G-d, still, it didn’t go to his head. Why? Because he always considered his strengths and qualities as gifts from G-d. Had someone else been granted those very same talents, he reckoned, they might have done even better. So, Moses was simultaneously the greatest prophet and leader of all time and also the humblest of all men.

Greatness is no reason for arrogance. Indeed, the truly great are truly humble.