Dear Friends,

When we read the story of Purim and the story of Pesach, we uncover many overlapping themes.  I would like to touch upon one of these themes as it relates to leadership.  In both of these stories, we read about leaders who do not wish to take on leadership roles. 
In the megilla, after Mordekhai discovers the plot to destroy the Jews, he implores Esther to confront the king, but she initially refuses.  Similarly, in the story of Pesach, after Moshe “discovers” Hashem at the burning bush, Hashem tells Moshe to lead the Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt, but Moshe initially refuses. I believe that these interactions teach us two valuable lessons about leadership.

How does Mordekhai respond to Esther?  Does Mordekhai tell Esther that the fate of the Jewish people rests in her hand?  Not exactly.  Mordekhai tells Esther that if she doesn’t help the Jewish people, revah v’hatzalah ya’amod la’Yehudim mimakom aher, salvation for the Jews will arise from elsewhere.  In other words, Mordekhai is confident that the Jews will be saved, even without Esther’s help.  He simply tells Esther umi yodai’a im l’et kazot higa’at lamalkhut, i.e., who knows if this is the reason that she has become queen.  Esther has the opportunity to save the Jews and if she doesn’t act now, she will miss her opportunity.

Very often, we shy away from leadership roles.  We think that someone else will do the job.  Unfortunately, sometimes nobody else will do the job and we have a responsibility to take on a leadership role to ensure a desired result.  However, seizing an opportunity doesn’t only achieve results, but it also makes us better people.  That is the lesson that Mordekhai teaches Esther.  Salvation will occur, says Mordekhai, but the question is whether Esther will take advantage of this opportunity to be Hashem’s agent in saving the Jewish people?

How does Hashem respond to Moshe?  Moshe needs a little more convincing than Esther does as Moshe tries many times to refuse the mantle of leadership.  Moshe thinks of every excuse in the book.  What will he say to Pharaoh?  What will he say to the Bnei Yisrael?  How can someone with a speech impediment address the nation?  Nevertheless, Hashem is confident that Moshe is the right man for the job.

The refusal of Moshe teaches us that it is natural for capable individuals to refuse opportunities of leadership for various reasons.  It is very easy to find reasons why not to do something because we can always find fault in some aspect of our character or we can always claim that we don’t possess the skills necessary for leadership.

Each one of us must listen to the response of Mordekhai and to the response of Hashem.  “Seize the opportunity,” says Mordekhai.  “I will help you succeed,” says Hashem.  It is heartwarming that in our community so many individuals, both newer members and long-term members, with the help of Hashem, have become leaders in our community in our growth initiative, in our chesed activities, in our educational programs, in our social programs, in our youth programs, in the running of our minyanim and in planning a singles Shabbaton, a Yom Hashoah program, an outreach program and Israeli advocacy.

What is a synagogue?  Is it a mikdash m’at, a miniature Temple?  Yes.  Is it a beit Knesset, a house of assembly?  Yes.  At the Young Israel of Oceanside, it is more than that.  At the Young Israel of Oceanside, the synagogue is also a vehicle of opportunity.  I encourage each one of us to ask ourselves, “How can I seize the opportunity?  How can I be a leader in the community?  What are my strengths and what are my interests?”  We are a shul that is creating a culture of activism, a culture of vibrancy and I challenge each and every member of our shul not simply to watch this activism unfold, to watch this vibrancy unfold, but to be a part of it. 

Yael, Ahava, Netanel, Elisheva, Leora and I would like to wish you all a happy and meaningful Pesach.

Jonathan Muskat