Leadership has very ancient roots, and Moses is arguably among the best biblical prototypes for effective contemporary leaders. The ancient rabbis were certainly convinced as the following Midrash speaks well of Moses’ character and leadership qualities:

Those who carefully analyze the Bible will recognize that the ideas embedded in the Torah are not limited to laws, but through the example of Moses as described in the Torah and subsequent rabbinic literature, among other non-Jewish and secular writings, we can see aspects of Moses’ leadership that continue to be advocated today. Hal Lewis asserts, “Being a leader is not the same as being a bureaucrat. A leader must be sufficiently honest to look in the mirror, to become that mirror for others, and to inspire candid organizational introspection on an ongoing basis.” Jonathan Sacks maintains that “leadership demands two kinds of courage: the strength to take a risk, and the humility to admit when a risk fails.”

While Moses’ reputation was that of the most humble of men, and he was certainly well chosen as the leader of the Israelites, Lewis notes that the Talmud, citing Rosh Hashanah 25 a– b, makes it very clear that “not every Jewish leader will be a person of impeccable integrity or one who has been destined for greatness from birth. Far from being an innate trait, leadership involves a set of behaviors and activities, much of which must be taught.” This certainly applies to all people who are prospective leaders, regardless of religion or ethnicity.

Just as Moses had an early apprenticeship followed by learning on the job, most aspiring leaders need to be taught specific leadership skills. Warren Bennis agrees with this thinking. According to Bennis and Goldsmith, “Leaders are made, not born, and are created as much by themselves as by the demands of their times.