This week’s Torah portion is called Ki Tisa, and it contains within the eternally impactful story of the Golden Calf.
Moses has gone up on Mt Sinai to receive the Torah. He does not return to the Israelite camp on the day he is expected, and in their panic, the people create an idol. As Moshe descends the mountain, he sees the pagan celebration and drops the tablets upon which Gd had inscribed the Ten Commandments.
Gd proceeds to inform Moshe that the Jewish people will be destroyed and a new nation stemming from Moshe himself will take their place.
Despite the intense shock Moshe must have felt in that moment, he keeps focused on his mission. In the most extreme example of Azus d’Kedusha, holy brazenness, or holy chutzpah, Moshe demurs. He tells Gd that if the Jewish people will not be forgiven and indeed destroyed, he wants no part of it. In fact, he tells Gd to erase his name from The Book, the Torah itself.
In this statement, Moshe is willing to sacrifice it all for the Jewish people. That is true leadership.
Moshe is not focused on himself.
He regards his primary mission as a shepherd, corralling his charges and bringing them along the path.
It is a very big statement Moshe makes.
Gd does hear Moshe’s plea and forgives the Jewish people, but only thanks to Moshe’s intervention.
While Gd extends a reprieve, there is in fact a portion in which Moshe’s name is not mentioned. From the time of Moshe’s birth until his death, his name is mentioned in every Torah portion.
Except one.
Even though Gd is addressing him, Moshe’s name is not mentioned. That is because he did say he would be erased from the Book and that was a statement made by a righteous person, and a statement by a righteous person comes to pass.
That portion was last week.
Moshe’s name is not mentioned once in the Parsha of Tetzave. Even though the Parsha begins with the statement “and you (Moshe)shall command the Jewish people” his name is not used.
Leadership means that the needs of the group come before one’s own.

This week’s Torah portion awakens us to possibilities in our own lives. How often do we look around and put the needs of others before our own?
Jwcatlanta just concluded its maiden Voices of Courage immersive Israel experience.
The plan was to use Israel as our classroom and learn from the Land and Her inhabitants. We were fortunate to meet many women who exemplify the concept of using their voices courageously.
The trip was a source of inspiration and uplift in every way.
But then something quite unexpected occurred.
We found ourselves in the middle of a war.
As you can imagine,
This is no small thing.
Although we were in the safest place possible, having to constantly run down to a bomb shelter is not a simple matter.
The sound of the sirens can make the strongest of heart quite anxious.
In those challenging circumstances, our cohort transformed from observers to experts.
They were not on a Voices of Courage trip, they became those very same voices.
It was incredible to watch how each person took turns crashing and uplifting. One person fell apart and her sister reassured her and then the tables were turned as the support came from the very one who needed it previously.
The Voices were voices of kindness, caring, concern, outreach and support. The Voices were raised in fear and concern at times, but the undercurrent was always one of compassion and respect.
That’s leadership.
We celebrated Purim while in Israel.
That was not scheduled!
We read about Esther, and then brought her to life by channeling Esther, and experiencing Esther moments again and again as people surpassed all expectations and showed up as true leaders in tough times.
We pray for peace.
May this war conclude quickly and achieve its goals without injury to our beloved People.
This trip concluded with a deep
understanding of how this country is built on the shoulders of some incredible women.
And it then we channeled that energy ourselves.
#womenofcouragewhenitcounts
Looking forward to seeing y’all very soon iyH.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love from the Land built by Courageous Voices.