Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein
There is a fascinating story in the Talmud about two young people who were appointed to very senior leadership positions. In their quest to understand what it means to be a leader, they sought advice.
They approached one of the great Sages of the time, who gave them a crucial insight that sums up the essence of what all leadership is about. He said to them: “I give you not power, but service.”
That is the essence of leadership: service – what we can do to help others; what we can do to make a difference to the society around us. A great leader cares not about exercising power, but about serving the people of his or her society.
There is a seminal statement in the Talmud that says: “Love the work and hate the position.”
It is yet another manifesto for leadership: love the work that the position offers you the opportunity to do; but hate the position. Hate all of the potential trappings that come with it.
Hate the title and the recognition that it gives you. But love to do the work. The work that makes a real difference to the society around you. This call for service leadership applies to each and every one of us.
One of the best examples of a person who lived this philosophy of leadership was Nelson Mandela. Our beloved Madiba was a person who served South Africa in a way that was about the work. He served for our country, for our society and indeed for us – not for himself, or for his position.
The decision he made, that best exemplifies this, was when he decided not to stand for a second term as the President of the Republic of South Africa. That may be an unusual thing to say. But it is, nevertheless, true. When he made that decision, he was imparting a profound message to South Africa; one that said this is not about Nelson Mandela, this is about South Africa.
Even though he was one of the greatest personalities and leaders this country has ever been blessed with, he clarified that this was not about him in his personal capacity; this was about what he could do for the country. By stepping aside, he made way for a new generation to take over.
Leadership is not just about what politicians do. Leadership is something that each of us do each and every day. Communal and business organisations require leaders who love the work of what can be done for others and not the personal enrichment of what the position brings.
Fathers and mothers lead their children, and we all have the opportunity to lead our society. The same adage, love the work and hate the position, applies. Love what you can do for your children and the difference you can make to their lives, not what you can take from it. It’s the same in marriage. A husband and wife who are creating a marriage together are providing leadership for one another. It’s not about what you can take out of the marriage.
It’s not about the benefits – the personal enrichment and personal benefits – it’s what you can do for the marriage.
Service through leadership can be present in every facet of our lives. We need to ask ourselves: what is it that we can do for others? How can we make a difference? How can we make a real contribution? Love the work, love what you can do; hate the position, hate the trappings and the self-benefit that you can get out of it.
Ironically, G** has created the world in such a way that when we are not pursuing our self-interest, we will get the most out of it. When we are doing it for the sake of others, that is when we will receive the greatest reward.
As we look ahead to 2016, let’s work together as South Africans to form a great, moral vision together; to make this a year of service. A year of what we can do for others; a year of work, of dedication, of action, of being committed to making our society a better place for all – not just for ourselves.
And if we create a culture and spirit of service in this country then 2016 will, indeed, be a blessed year. At this time we ask G** Almighty to look down in mercy and bless all of the wonderful people of this beautiful country. May we all be blessed with a year of success, prosperity, good health and only good things.