Leadership insights from Judaism and the ages

In my last blog “Trump fails every standard of great leadership,” I presented ideas of what I believe makes for great leadership.

Below are passages gleaned from Jewish tradition and from thinkers beyond the Jewish world that address what constitutes great leadership.

Pick from each of your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and experienced, and I will appoint them as your heads. -Deuteronomy 1:13

Each [leader] must possess seven characteristic, as follows: wisdom, humility, fear of God, hatred of unjust gain, love of truth, respected, and of upstanding reputation. -Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Sanhedrin 2:7

Anyone who is wise, humble, clear-headed, and fearful of sin…may be made a judge/leader in his/her city. -Tosafot Sanhedrin 7:1

“…  Such a person is guilty of profaning the Divine name, if he, for instance, makes a purchase and does not immediately pay for it, in the case where he has the money and the sellers demand it, but he stalls them; or if he indulges in riotous behavior and in keeping undesirable company; or if he speaks roughly to his fellows and does not receive them courteously but shows his temper and the like…He must endeavor to be scrupulously strict in his behavior and go beyond the letter of the law. If he does this, speaking kindly to his fellows, showing himself sociable and amiable with a welcome for everyone, taking insult but not giving it; respect them, even those who make light of him; honest in his dealings by going beyond the letter of the law in all his actions until all praise and love him, enraptured by his deed – such a person has sanctified the name of God.  ….” Rambam, Yesodei Hatorah 5:11

Who is the leader of all leaders? One who can make an enemy into one’s friend.-Avot d’Rabbi Natan, 23

When a person is able to take abuse with a smile, that person is worthy to become a leader. -Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav

Rabbi Eliezar said: every leader who leads the community with mildness will be privileged to lead them in the next world [too]. -Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 92a

According to one opinion, the character of a generation is determined by its leader. According to the other opinion, the character of its leader is determined by its generation. -Talmud Bavli, Arakhin 17a

Show me the leader and I will know his men. Show me the men and I will know their leader. -Arthur W. Newcomb

The servant-leader is servant first … It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. Servant-leadership model is one that promotes such values as collaboration, trust, foresight, listening, and the ethical use of power and empowerment. -Dr. Steven Windmueller, Professor of International Relations

The best test [of a servant-leader] and difficult to administer, is: do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? –Robert K. Greenleaf, founder of modern servant-leadership movement

The true lawgiver ought to have a heart full of sensibility. He ought to love and respect his kind, and to fear himself. -Edmund Burke

Leadership is a passionate activity. It begins with a warm gratitude toward that which you have inherited and a fervent wish to steward it well. It is propelled by an ardent moral imagination, a vision of a good society that can’t be realized in one lifetime. It is informed by seasoned affections, a love of the way certain people concretely are and a desire to give all a chance to live at their highest level. This kind of leader is warm-blooded and leads with full humanity. -David Brooks, NY Times columnist

The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.”-Emanuel James “Jim” Rohn

A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss is interested in himself or herself,  a leader is interested in the group. -Russell H. Ewing

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. –John Quincy Adams

Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory and when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership. -Nelson Mandela

…American leadership is not simply a matter of going it alone and bearing all of the burden ourselves. Real leadership creates the conditions and coalitions for others to step up as well; to work with allies and partners so that they bear their share of the burden and pay their share of the costs; and to see that the principles of justice and human dignity are upheld by all. -President Barack Obama