We are first introduced to the adult Moshe when he leaves his house to find an Egyptian and a Jew quarreling. In defense of the Jewish slave, Moshe fatally hits the Egyptian taskmaster. Our next encounter with Moshe takes place the next day when he leaves his house and finds two Jews quarreling among themselves.  Moshe again intervenes.  As a result of this event, Moshe runs away to Midyan, where his first encounter is with the daughters of Yitro as he protects them from the Midyanite shepherds. 

Perhaps these stories can lend insight as to why Moshe was the perfect choice to lead Bnei Yisroel from servitude. In all three circumstances, Moshe intervened when he could have walked away. He was an Egyptian prince, a man of royalty. He connected with the plight of the Israelites and felt the need to act. Then when he saw the two Jews quarreling, and the daughters of Yitro being harassed, he again intervened when he ostensibly could have easily looked the other way.

These stories highlight what it means to be a Jewish leader. A Jewish leader needs to take action for the benefit of individuals and the community at large. A Jewish leader takes action because it is the right thing to do. We act because we are committed to Klal Yisrael. The Torah defines Moshe primarily by his humility, which is what allowed him to succeed. He was proactive in small situations where he saw injustice, but needed Hashem's encouragement before he embraced the role of national leader. He did not seek personal glory or self-aggrandizement; he realized the importance of the task.

Every day in a large and small scale we strive to impart the lessons of humility and action for the sake of others. As we continue to participate in community-wide volunteer programs, we look forward to seeing how our students put these lessons into action.