Manhigut (Leadership): Women & The Drive To Lead November 11, 2020

Rebekah רבקה:

(כא) וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר יִצְחָ֤ק לַֽיי לְנֹ֣כַח אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י עֲקָרָ֖ה הִ֑וא וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר לוֹ֙ יי וַתַּ֖הַר רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃(כב) וַיִּתְרֹֽצֲצ֤וּ הַבָּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אִם־כֵּ֔ן לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה אָנֹ֑כִי וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֶת־יי׃(כג) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יי לָ֗הּ שְׁנֵ֤י גיים [גוֹיִם֙] בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ וּשְׁנֵ֣י לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ וּלְאֹם֙ מִלְאֹ֣ם יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר׃(כד) וַיִּמְלְא֥וּ יָמֶ֖יהָ לָלֶ֑דֶת וְהִנֵּ֥ה תוֹמִ֖ם בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃...

(ו) וְרִבְקָה֙ אָֽמְרָ֔ה אֶל־יַעֲקֹ֥ב בְּנָ֖הּ לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֤ה שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־אָבִ֔יךָ מְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶל־עֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִ֖יךָ לֵאמֹֽר׃(ז) הָבִ֨יאָה לִּ֥י צַ֛יִד וַעֲשֵׂה־לִ֥י מַטְעַמִּ֖ים וְאֹכֵ֑לָה וַאֲבָרֶכְכָ֛ה לִפְנֵ֥י יי לִפְנֵ֥י מוֹתִֽי׃(ח) וְעַתָּ֥ה בְנִ֖י שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלִ֑י לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י מְצַוָּ֥ה אֹתָֽךְ׃(ט) לֶךְ־נָא֙ אֶל־הַצֹּ֔אן וְקַֽח־לִ֣י מִשָּׁ֗ם שְׁנֵ֛י גְּדָיֵ֥י עִזִּ֖ים טֹבִ֑ים וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֨ה אֹתָ֧ם מַטְעַמִּ֛ים לְאָבִ֖יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָהֵֽב׃(י) וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ לְאָבִ֖יךָ וְאָכָ֑ל בַּעֲבֻ֛ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְבָרֶכְךָ֖ לִפְנֵ֥י מוֹתֽוֹ׃(יא) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֶל־רִבְקָ֖ה אִמּ֑וֹ הֵ֣ן עֵשָׂ֤ו אָחִי֙ אִ֣ישׁ שָׂעִ֔ר וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִ֥ישׁ חָלָֽק׃(יב) אוּלַ֤י יְמֻשֵּׁ֙נִי֙ אָבִ֔י וְהָיִ֥יתִי בְעֵינָ֖יו כִּמְתַעְתֵּ֑עַ וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י עָלַ֛י קְלָלָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א בְרָכָֽה׃(יג) וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ אִמּ֔וֹ עָלַ֥י קִלְלָתְךָ֖ בְּנִ֑י אַ֛ךְ שְׁמַ֥ע בְּקֹלִ֖י וְלֵ֥ךְ קַֽח־לִֽי׃(יד) וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּקַּ֔ח וַיָּבֵ֖א לְאִמּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֤עַשׂ אִמּוֹ֙ מַטְעַמִּ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָהֵ֥ב אָבִֽיו׃(טו)וַתִּקַּ֣ח רִ֠בְקָה אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֨י עֵשָׂ֜ו בְּנָ֤הּ הַגָּדֹל֙ הַחֲמֻדֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתָּ֖הּ בַּבָּ֑יִת וַתַּלְבֵּ֥שׁ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֖ב בְּנָ֥הּ הַקָּטָֽן׃(טז) וְאֵ֗ת עֹרֹת֙ גְּדָיֵ֣י הָֽעִזִּ֔ים הִלְבִּ֖ישָׁה עַל־יָדָ֑יו וְעַ֖ל חֶלְקַ֥ת צַוָּארָֽיו׃(יז)וַתִּתֵּ֧ן אֶת־הַמַּטְעַמִּ֛ים וְאֶת־הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֣רעָשָׂ֑תָה בְּיַ֖ד יַעֲקֹ֥ב בְּנָֽהּ׃(יח) וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל־אָבִ֖יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר...,קֽוּם־נָ֣א שְׁבָ֗ה וְאָכְלָה֙ מִצֵּידִ֔י בַּעֲב֖וּר תְּבָרֲכַ֥נִּי נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃...

Genesis 25:19-28:9

(21) Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD responded to his plea, and his wife Rebekah conceived.(22) But the children struggled in her womb, and she said, “If so, why do I exist?” She went to inquire of the LORD,(23) and the LORD answered her, “Two nations are in your womb, Two separate peoples shall issue from your body; One people shall be mightier than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”(24) When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb.....

(6) Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I overheard your father speaking to your brother Esau, saying,(7) ‘Bring me some game and prepare a dish for me to eat, that I may bless you, with the LORD’s approval, before I die.’(8) Now, my son, listen carefully as I instruct you.(9) Go to the flock and fetch me two choice kids, and I will make of them a dish for your father, such as he likes.(10) Then take it to your father to eat, in order that he may bless you before he dies.”(11) Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man and I am smooth-skinned.(12) If my father touches me, I shall appear to him as a trickster and bring upon myself a curse, not a blessing.”(13) But his mother said to him, “Your curse, my son, be upon me! Just do as I say and go fetch them for me.”(14) He got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared a dish such as his father liked.(15) Rebekah then took the best clothes of her older son Esau, which were there in the house, and had her younger son Jacob put them on;(16) and she covered his hands and the hairless part of his neck with the skins of the kids.(17) Then she put in the hands of her son Jacob the dish and the bread that she had prepared.(18 and 19) He went to his father and said, ..." Pray sit up and eat of my game, that you may give me your innermost blessing.”....

Rebekah: Midrash and Aggadah by Tamar Kedari (Jewish Women's Archives)

Rebekah, one of the four Matriarchs, is characterized by the Rabbis as a prophet and a righteous woman. Although her family and those among whom she lived were deceitful, she was not adversely influenced by her surroundings, but grew up as “a lily among thorns.” She was the recipient of special blessings: ..... Rebekah is portrayed by the midrash as a prophet: God revealed His plan to her when her sons were still in her womb, and, with her prophetic perception, she knew that Esau planned to kill Jacob. Rebekah wins the midrash’s praise for her ability to distinguish between the wicked Esau and the righteous Jacob. She aided in the execution of God’s plan, by causing Jacob to receive Isaac’s blessing.

The Rabbis derived several laws of brides from the manner in which Rebekah was sent forth from her father’s house. Various details in her life were perceived by the Rabbis as representative of what would later befall the people of Israel: the well water rose up to her, just as it would rise up in the future to the people of Israel; the gifts that Abraham’s servant gave her are a paradigm for those that Israel would receive from God: the two Tablets of the Covenant and the Ten Commandments. The Rabbis observe that the Israelites would leave Egypt by merit of Rebekah’s willingness to leave her parents’ house. The midrash thereby transforms Rebekah from an individual character with a personal story into a symbol of the realization of God’s promise to Abraham. Through her, Isaac’s line would continue, and by her merit he would become a great and numerous nation that would go forth from Egypt and inherit the land of Canaan.
QUESTIONS: Rebekah
1) What are Rebekah's leadership qualities? skills?
2) When it comes to the leadership quality, where would you place her on the car (re: manhigut)
3) How were Rebekah and her actions viewed by our sages then? How are Rebekah and her actions viewed today? Think about a comparison to the behavior of any modern day leader.

Miriam מרים:

שמות ב׳:ד׳

(ד) וַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב אֲחֹת֖וֹ מֵרָחֹ֑ק לְדֵעָ֕ה מַה־יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה לֽוֹ׃

Exodus 2:4

(4) And his sister stationed herself at a distance, to learn what would befall him.

שמות ט״ו:כ״א

(כא) וַתַּ֥עַן לָהֶ֖ם מִרְיָ֑ם שִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיי כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃ (ס)

Exodus 15:21

(21) And Miriam chanted for them: Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.

במדבר י״ב:ב׳

(ב) וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ הֲרַ֤ק אַךְ־בְּמֹשֶׁה֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר יי הֲלֹ֖א גַּם־בָּ֣נוּ דִבֵּ֑ר וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע יי׃

Numbers 12:2

(2) They said, “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?” The LORD heard it.

Excerpt from Miriam the Prophetess*
Joel Baden, Professor of Hebrew Bible, Yale Divinity School

Less than a handful of episodes, yet Miriam is said by the prophet Micah to have been sent along with Moses and Aaron to redeem Israel from Egypt. In later Jewish tradition Miriam’s role only grows in stature. Despite there being no mention of her having any children in the Bible, the tradition makes her the ancestor of both Bezalel, the architect of the Tabernacle, and of King David. Because she was labeled as a prophet, there are stories about her predicting that Moses would save Israel. Perhaps the most prominent post-biblical tradition, however, is that of Miriam’s well, a miraculous source of water that accompanied the Israelites through the wilderness — until Miriam’s death, when it disappeared.
*https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/miriam-the-prophetess/
QUESTIONS: Miriam
1) What are Miriam's leadership qualities? Do they evolve in each phase of her life? How?
2) When it comes to one of her main leadership qualities, where would you place her on the car?
3) How was Miriam viewed by our sages? How is she viewed today? Has this changed?

Deborah דבורה:

שופטים ד׳

(א) וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יי וְאֵה֖וּד מֵֽת׃(ב) וַיִּמְכְּרֵ֣ם יי בְּיַד֙ יָבִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־כְּנַ֔עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָלַ֖ךְ בְּחָצ֑וֹר וְשַׂר־צְבָאוֹ֙ סִֽיסְרָ֔א וְה֥וּא יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בַּחֲרֹ֥שֶׁת הַגּוֹיִֽם׃(ג) וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יי כִּ֠י תְּשַׁ֨ע מֵא֤וֹת רֶֽכֶב־בַּרְזֶל֙ ל֔וֹ וְ֠הוּא לָחַ֞ץ אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּחָזְקָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃ (ס)(ד) וּדְבוֹרָה֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה נְבִיאָ֔ה אֵ֖שֶׁת לַפִּיד֑וֹת הִ֛יא שֹׁפְטָ֥ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽיא׃(ה) וְ֠הִיא יוֹשֶׁ֨בֶת תַּֽחַת־תֹּ֜מֶר דְּבוֹרָ֗ה בֵּ֧ין הָרָמָ֛ה וּבֵ֥ין בֵּֽית־אֵ֖ל בְּהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיַּעֲל֥וּ אֵלֶ֛יהָ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃(ו) וַתִּשְׁלַ֗ח וַתִּקְרָא֙ לְבָרָ֣ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֔עַם מִקֶּ֖דֶשׁ נַפְתָּלִ֑י וַתֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הֲלֹ֥א צִוָּ֣ה ׀ יי אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֵ֤ךְ וּמָֽשַׁכְתָּ֙ בְּהַ֣ר תָּב֔וֹר וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ עִמְּךָ֗ עֲשֶׂ֤רֶת אֲלָפִים֙ אִ֔ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֥י נַפְתָּלִ֖י וּמִבְּנֵ֥י זְבֻלֽוּן׃(ז) וּמָשַׁכְתִּ֨י אֵלֶ֜יךָ אֶל־נַ֣חַל קִישׁ֗וֹן אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא֙ שַׂר־צְבָ֣א יָבִ֔ין וְאֶת־רִכְבּ֖וֹ וְאֶת־הֲמוֹנ֑וֹ וּנְתַתִּ֖יהוּ בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃(ח) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ בָּרָ֔ק אִם־תֵּלְכִ֥י עִמִּ֖י וְהָלָ֑כְתִּי וְאִם־לֹ֥א תֵלְכִ֛י עִמִּ֖י לֹ֥א אֵלֵֽךְ׃(ט) וַתֹּ֜אמֶר הָלֹ֧ךְ אֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֗ךְ אֶ֚פֶס כִּי֩ לֹ֨א תִֽהְיֶ֜ה תִּֽפְאַרְתְּךָ֗ עַל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה הוֹלֵ֔ךְ כִּ֣י בְֽיַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה יִמְכֹּ֥ר יי אֶת־סִֽיסְרָ֑א וַתָּ֧קָם דְּבוֹרָ֛ה וַתֵּ֥לֶך עִם־בָּרָ֖ק קֶֽדְשָׁה׃

Judges 4

(1) The Israelites again did what was offensive to the LORD—Ehud now being dead.(2) And the LORD surrendered them to King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. His army commander was Sisera, whose base was Harosheth-goiim.(3) The Israelites cried out to the LORD; for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he had oppressed Israel ruthlessly for twenty years.(4)Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was a prophetess; she led Israel at that time.(5) She used to sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would come to her for decisions.(6) She summoned Barak son of Abinoam, of Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has commanded: Go, march up to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.(7) And I will draw Sisera, Jabin’s army commander, with his chariots and his troops, toward you up to the Wadi Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hands.”(8)But Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; if not, I will not go.”(9) “Very well, I will go with you,” she answered. “However, there will be no glory for you in the course you are taking, for then the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

Deborah is, in fact, unique in that she is the only woman in the Hebrew Bible with substantial, hard political power who is portrayed positively. And she is possibly the only character lauded for military, prophetic, and artistic talents.
- Raanan Eichler, Senior Lecturer in Bible, Bar Ilan University

אמר רב נחמן לא יאה יהירותא לנשי תרתי נשי יהירן הויין וסניין שמייהו חדא שמה זיבורתא וחדא שמה כרכושתא זיבורתא כתיב בה (שופטים ד, ו) ותשלח ותקרא לברק ואילו איהי לא אזלה לגביה כרכושתא כתיב בה (מלכים ב כב, טו) אמרו לאיש ולא אמרה אמרו למלך

Deboarah in Megillah 14b:

An additional point is mentioned with regard to the prophetesses. Rav Naḥman said: Haughtiness is not befitting a woman. And a proof to this is that there were two haughty women, whose names were identical to the names of loathsome creatures. One,Deborah, was called a hornet, as her Hebrew name, Devorah, means hornet; and one, Huldah, was called a marten, as her name is the Hebrew term for that creature. From where is it known that they were haughty? With regard to Deborah, the hornet, it is written: “And she sent and called Barak” (Judges 4:6), but she herself did not go to him. And with regard to Huldah, the marten, it is written: “Say to the man that sent you to me” (II Kings 22:15), but she did not say: Say to the king.

QUESTIONS: Deborah
1) What are Deborah's leadership qualities? skills?
2) When it comes to her main leadership quality, where would you place her on the car?
3) How was Deborah viewed by our sages? How is Deborah thought of and spoken about today? Think about a comparison to the leadership quality of a modern day leader.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1) If these were men would the view of their leadership skills/abilities be different? Would the view of the rabbis and society of them be different?
2) What leadership qualities are easily attributed to women? Which leadership qualities are not easily attributed to women leaders, but are very important and strategic in assuming and maintaining a leadership role?
3) What are the challenges to leadership for women? How does reluctance play into this sphere?
4) What does someone need to cultivate inside to enable them to take risks and lead?
5) What do we need from our community and from other women to have us feel supported to take risks and step up to lead?
6) What is the role that Federation and Women's Philanthropy can take in supporting this effort and providing resources to think about this further as we work to make a further impact in the community and empower more women leaders?