Moses as Political Leader

by Aaron Wildavsky, Yoram Hazony (Foreword)

Aaron Wildavsky, a giant of American political science, brings his profound understanding of human affairs to bear on the founding of the world's most enduring political community, the nation of Israel. At a time in which we are rediscovering the indispensability of resolute and perspicacious leadership, Wildavsky's brilliant study of Moses as founding father illuminates not only the Jewish past but the enduring political questions of how to build and preserve a decent, righteous, and stable community, here and hereafter. A marvelous book! ― Leon Kass, University of Chicago

Genres: Leadership

Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Aaron B. Wildavsky

Reviews

[Matthew.lawrence.klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the middle of Wildavsky's "Moses as a Political Leader" Fascinating to think about leadership as a function of regime (slavery, anarchy, equity, and hierarchy).While the Bible has clear teaching against Slavery and Anarchy, h never comes out entirely for equity or hierarchy. :"Hierarchies tend to maintain differences among people; equities, to diminish them. Adherents of hierarchies smash foreign idols whereas members of equities tear down their own."(242) Hierarchies tend to be autocratic; equities--charismatic.

Every regime has ups and downs -- the Bible, and certainly life, idealizes none.

Takehome for me: For Moses, leadership is not an end in itself. I had a recent conversation about the merits of anarchism -- it's dynamic, allows people to be in direct relationships with each other, and healthily skeptical of authority. But the question is--what are the goals being advanced. What are the principles (mitzvot) underlying the system, and is that system serving the advancement of those principles.

I don't think this is really saying much. An interesting case study would be analyzing leadership in the movement of independent minyanim. Seems an equity topped with hierarchy on the local level (gabbai'im). Leadership teams are (to my knowledge) small and make broad decisions on behalf of the minyan (Havurot are more based in equity, and thus make more democratic decisions. Cf. Eli Kaunfer's Empowered Judaism ). However, broader ideas of practice are affected by a broad community of teachers, bloggers, and charismatics, as well as the group conscience of those who are part of a minyan community.

Perhaps this is all simply descriptive. More to think about.

A final insight: Compare the historical perspectives of the books of Samuel and Chronicles. The former is very based in an equity-ideal, the latter in a hierarchical ideal. The positives and negatives of each perspective come blaring through each book. Samuel, a prophetic book, ruthlessly tears down Saul, David, and the leadership of Israel in its failure to live up to divine standards which affect us all equally. Chronicles, a priestly perspective on history, is very concerned with the institutions of Judaism, evaluating people and leaders in terms of fidelity to God vs. idolatry. However, Chronicles whitewashes the character of David, obscuring some of the corruption inherent in the founder and imaginer of the major institutions(both physical and personnel) of Israelite society.