Good Afternoon RMBA!
I can’t believe that it is only the second day of school. It feels like just yesterday that I was driving down from New Jersey to Houston. One of the most asked questions from our RMBA community was how I spent my 26 hours of driving - what music and podcasts I listen to and what snacks did I pack to get me through. I was happy to share and yet, there was a piece missing from how I spent most of my trip.
Simon Sinek, arguably the presenter of the most watched TEDtalk titled How Great Leaders Inspire Action, discusses the art of leadership by taking a leap away from the how and what to focus on the why. He explains that at the heart of every great company and organization is a leader who is able to share the story of why they exist, why they chose to do what they do and their unique way in how they accomplish that. We had such a leader, his name was Moshe Rabbeinu, Moses our Teacher.
In the final days of his life, he chose to rehash the past 40 plus years of Jewish history inorder to ensure that a Jewish future would exist in perpetuity. His final speech to the Jewish people was full of the most inspiring words and ideas till that moment. He highlighted three areas regarding the Jewish people’s distinct identity in the world:
- Moshe expressed that what took place to the Jewish people would eventually change and inspire the world.
כִּ֣י שְׁאַל־נָא֩ לְיָמִ֨ים רִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־הָי֣וּ לְפָנֶ֗יךָ לְמִן־הַיּוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁר֩ בָּרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אָדָם֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּלְמִקְצֵ֥ה הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְעַד־קְצֵ֣ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם הֲנִֽהְיָ֗ה כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדוֹל֙ הַזֶּ֔ה א֖וֹ הֲנִשְׁמַ֥ע כָּמֹֽהוּ׃
When you ask about the early days that came before you, even since Hashem created humankind on this earth, from one end of heaven to the other, has anything as grand as this ever happened or been known before? (Devarim 4:32)
- Hashem’s unique relationship and revelation at Har Sinai, Sinai Mountain, distinguished Hashem as the architect of society, justice and dignity.
כִּ֚י מִי־ג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁר־ל֥וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים קְרֹבִ֣ים אֵלָ֑יו כַּיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ בְּכׇל־קׇרְאֵ֖נוּ אֵלָֽיו׃
How great is our nation that there is a god like Hashem that is so close as is Hashem whenever we call upon him? (Devarim 4:7)
- Hashem’s interest goes beyond the Jewish people itself as He sees the Jewish people as a beacon of hope and humanity to the world at large.
רְאֵ֣ה ׀ לִמַּ֣דְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֗ם חֻקִּים֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוַּ֖נִי יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת כֵּ֔ן בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם בָּאִ֥ים שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֮ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֒ כִּ֣י הִ֤וא חׇכְמַתְכֶם֙ וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם לְעֵינֵ֖י הָעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֚ת כׇּל־הַחֻקִּ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְאָמְר֗וּ רַ֚ק עַם־חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן הַגּ֥וֹי הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּֽה׃
See, I have imparted to you laws and rules, as my God יהוה has commanded me, for you to abide by in the land that you are about to enter and occupy. Observe them faithfully, for that will be proof of your wisdom and discernment to other peoples, who on hearing of all these laws will say, “Surely, that great nation is a wise and discerning people. (Devarim 4:5-6)
We are called upon to guide and be a source of inspiration to the world, not just in how and what we do. We are called upon to lean into our why, to lean into our faith and to be a blessing to the world at large. Unlike the leaders of the past, Moshe knew he would not enter into the Land of Israel and wanted to make sure that the Jewish people never forgot why they had put everything on the line to one day see a land imbued with Torah, mitzvot and Avodat Hashem, service to Hashem.
As I got deeper and deeper into my drive down to Houston, the question of why came up time and time again. Why did my family choose to move and join the Houston community? Why did we choose to join the RMBA community? The answers begin pouring in the form of the smile that a teacher gives to a returning student, the joy a parent shares in the open canvas that is our year ahead and the new initiatives that we are so glad to share with you and your children. The new MS and HS davening structure, the US onegs with delicious hot cholent and kugel and the ruach that has permeated every single one of our administrative and leadership meetings.
RMBA is ready to make its mark on the greater Jewish Houston landscape. My family and I are humbled and proud to be a part of that journey together. We can’t wait to live into our why in everything that we do as we “Rewrite the Stars.” We are just warming up. Hope you are ready to watch up as we shine.