The challenge of rabbinic leadership | Rabbi Shai Finkelstein July 7 2026

Hello everyone. Um, this for this entire academic year is really sponsored in memory of Mel and Sylvia by their families. Okay, today I would like it will be today and next week and I think that's really going to prepare us for the summer. It's uh to talk a little bit about the challenges of rabbitic leadership. Uh we'll start with uh a very famous story that I think all of you know. But you know there's always a danger when something is so familiar we have a tendency to just read it superficial in a superficial way uh instead of what of trying to look uh deeper into the story and uh also will obviously create some relevant lessons to us. Okay. So says the following says by the way if someone is associates they are yeah outside um there is a verse in and the verse says the following Praiseworthy is a person who is what? Who is always afraid and someone who I will call it harden his heart will fall into evil. You need to be in order to understand it. Right? He was the one to write it. He should understand it. But Rabioan begins the story that you will see in a minute that you all know with trying to understand the puk which means the story that we are going to read does not only stand on its own but rather the story is what is the is the tool that will help me to understand what the puk with me now immediately Oh, I just I think it's just like um Yeah. Okay. So now so now the is sharing the story and we all know the story. However, I would like for us to try to analyze it. Okay. We all know the story and because of them was destroyed. Now first and foremost if you will look in the there are at least 10 to 15 reasons of why the beta mdash was destroyed. What what can we learn from it that obviously the rabbis did not know the reason for the destruction but uh when they saw a deficiency uh when they saw something that in their generation was not good. So what did they say? Fix it because of what? Because if not, we will have it again. Okay. So it's not necessarily one thing. Okay. So they said because of was destroyed and because of this tene the the henal was destroyed the beta and because of something else that we are not dealing with was destroyed. Okay. Okay. So now we are more interested in. So because of the line was destroyed. What? What was the story? There was a person that Kamza liked the de and his enemy was baram whose enemy who said the gavra it seems to be the gavra. Okay. So one thing for sure, I'm not sure if you understood that story like that ever because we always think that the enemy was Kamsa's enemy. Here we are talking about someone who maybe was not Kamsa's enemy but he was Kamsa's friend enemy. Okay, so there was Gavra Mr. Ploney. Okay, his friend was Kamsa and Kamsa liked this guy but this guy did not like Barcam. Now what do we know about Kamza and Barcamsa? Not much according to this reading. I know maybe Kamza also didn't like him but um does not mean necessarily that I hated him. So Kama created or made a meal a feast. Sorry, the gava the gava made a feast and he says please invite for me kamza. Now Kamza's enemy is whom? Barat. Okay, so now we got the story. We have a guy who made a meal. He likes kamza. Says to his shame, to his agent, to his shal, you go ahead and what? Get kamza for me. Don't get baramama because uh they don't like each other. Okay. I don't really have a dog in the fight, but I like kamsa. I know kamsa does not like baramama. And that's it. >> Yeah. Okay. This is why I read it to you in two ways so you'll get confused. Perfect. I think mission is accomplished. The story is pretty ambiguous. We have gavra. We have kamsa and baramama. The garra at least accuse kamsa and baramama. We know one thing for sure that ka and barama are not the best friends. Who made the meal? >> The gavra. Who is the gavra? >> He's friend. That's what we know about him. And what does he think about baramsa? I don't know. We just know that he does. He knows that Kamsa and Kama can't sit in the same in the same room. Okay. So, it's interesting that it's very ambiguous and it's also interesting that we don't have the name for the gava the men. Okay. So, now there is another way to read it. Kama and Barca really have no issues with each other. The gavra that we don't know who he is. He has issues with baransa. Okay. And this is the way we always read the story. Right? Okay. But I showed you that we can read the story in two ways at least two ways. Okay. But let's go with our traditional reading. So, so he told his agent go bring me you know my friend. So instead of kamza he brought him baramsa now rea who is barcam >> it seems to be the son of kamza right always when we say bar it's the son of is that possible to say that this gava liked kama but he totally dislike his son it's definitely an option right it could be that bal kamza is not like a stranger. It's someone that this Gavra knows well as the son of Kamsa and he can't stand him. Can't stand the guy. He likes his father, can't stand the son. Do you know people like that? >> Yeah. I'm not asking for names. I'm just saying that if you know people like that and the answer is yes. Okay, we all know people that we like the parents, the children, we like less. Okay. Now, by the way, that will explain the misunderstanding. If you tell me that Barant is a totally different guy lives in a different home, okay, it will be a little weird to understand how come that this agent makes such a mistake. If you tell me that they all live in the same house, you knock on the door and say you are invited to the meal. It didn't look Kamza Baram whatever. So Bara, the son of Kam, which might be really the son of Kam or someone else with a very similar name. So he comes along and he's invited to the meala. So he came to the meal. So he saw that is what? Sitting at the meal. This is one of the most ambiguous sentences. I'm going to translate word by word. He said to him who who said to him who said to Bansa or who said to whom the gra says to bansa you are sure no but it's an option okay is not there so it's not kamsa so who are what are the options the guy who is what who sponsored the meal or another guy who also know that the gavra and baram are not friends. Now take a look. I'll start again. So he came who is we don't know who found sitting at the table. So it makes sense to say that it was whom the ga This guy is an enemy of this guy. Now that sounds very poetic I would say but we can't understand it. What does it mean? This guy is the enemy of this guy. Who is this guy? So it makes sense to say that this guy of this gava and who is that gava who told bama what are you doing here >> somebody else >> the okay so take a look at how many options let's say if we go with the so the shal says what did I do this is what are you doing here forgot that why that he was the one to invite him. Now he invited 20,000 people, right? So he forgot that he invited Barama. A B he thought that Bam has little bit of S and he understand also that what that he's not exactly invited. It's probably for his father. Okay. Or not the Shalia just another guy another friend of this gavra who looks at Bakham and says to him and what are you doing here? You know sometimes you come to shul and people say mo like what are you doing here? Like so nice to see you like what are you doing here? Why do you take my seat? Right? So when you have that, you know, so it's okay. It's the same thing here. Another guy goes comes along to the meal and says, "Bamsa, what are you doing here?" Now, what are the differences in the stories? If it's harugra, if this is really the guy who made the meal, I can understand. He goes to Bant says to him, I didn't invite you. Get out of here. If you tell me that this is another guy, it means that what? That's really who brought the entire story to his uh knowledge. Another guy which reminds me of the story of Purin. You know when who makes a big out of it? The other ministers they are asking Morai why don't you bow down and he says I'm not doing it. So what do they do? They go to Han to see they are the one to create the tension. You know those good doers, you know those good people that like to what to tell along other things to stir things up. Exactly. So it seems to be that this guy is stirring things up. Okay. >> Do what? >> Yes, right? So my What are you doing here? book. Get out of here. Stand up and leave. I'm already here. Just, you know, leave me alone. I'll just sit here quietly. I will pay for my meal. Said to him, "No." Now based on this we can definitely say that we should lean towards what that this meaning the guy with the meal he's the one talking to him and not the okay I'll pay for half of the meal even though I didn't eat the entire meal for the entire invitees every half of your party I'm paying Hello, I'll pay for the entire dinner for everyone. You can understand that obviously the baramza is a very wealthy person which is important to remember. I don't need it. I can pay for it by myself. No. So he took him by the hand, made him stand and basically kicked him out. So Baram says because the rabbis were there and didn't say anything. So it seems to be that rather they are okay with that. they agree with this uh with such a a treatment and with such a behavior because if not they will obviously say something I am going to add to get the government involved. Now pause here before we go any further. This is the first time that we hear that the rabbis were invited, right? The rabbis were there. And by the fact that he invited the rabbis, it means what? He's an important guy for sure. He's also what? >> Probably supports them. How do I know that? >> The rabbis didn't say it. It seems to be that the rabbis were afraid to say something against auga, right? Against auga. Why would they be afraid? He can take revenge. Oh, maybe he will stop the support. Okay. So, he goes to the Roman Caesar and he says to him, "What? The Jews rebelled against you." Now, pause here. Can you go to the Roman Caesar like that? Obviously not. You need to have an appointment unless you are what? >> Very important person. Baram is probably a very important person. Now we know he's very wealthy. He was willing to pay for the entire dinner for everyone >> and the what >> of kam why that we don't know. It might be that Kam is very wealthy and his son is also wealthy. But there is something interesting that this bar is definitely well connected and when he goes to the Roman Caesar, the Roman Caesar sees him which is interesting. How do I know? He says, you know what? Send them an animal and see if they will what? if they will sacrifice it for your sake. So the Roman Caesar gave him an animal, a calf, which is one of the best sacrifices that you can get. But on the way to the beta mikdash, did the following. So he created a blemish in his lips something in his eye that in a place that what that for the Romans it's not considered as what as a blemish but for us Jews we cannot sacrifice it. So what does he do? He's a very clever guy. You can see that he knows the halaka and he knows also Roman law right. So he is going to present the rabbis with what? With a dilemma. A dilemma. What is the dilemma? To sacrifice it and then to be saved from the Roman Caesar or not to sacrifice it and obviously risk themselves with what? With the wrath of the Roman Caesar. So when the rabbis looked at that animal they realized that there is a blemish but they said you know what really for the Roman now and they did not know that Bakamsa put the blemish they said maybe the Roman Caesar did it in order to what to test us right so you know what let's just do it because of what the harmony and the peace with the government because if not they will be upset with us Okay. So says to them people would say what that you can bring animals sacrifices with a blemish. So we shouldn't even though you can understand that how many people really saw the blemish some rabbis and that's it now people can't hide it you know I'm sure one rabbi will tell another and then people will know and bans also and he can talk maybe bakansa will put an ad you know and he will say I brought a sacrifice with a blemish and they did it. Okay, maybe what does that mean? The rabbi says, "Okay, we should kill Barcam. If you kill the Shalia, the Roman Caesar would never know if we brought the sacrifice or not, we can tell him that just died on the way. So, he will not go back and will tell on us. says, "No, no, no. We can't do that." Why? Because people would say a person who placed a blemish in a sacrifice should be put to death. And this is not the Okay, listen to that. What is in is humility humility destroyed our house burned our sanctuary and expelled us from our country just one second I thought that it's because of whom now you're telling me it's because of what that he was very humble humble where exactly you can see humility here and don't forget what is the initial idea of this story. This story should help me to explain what the verse for He began this entire story with what? We're trying to understand the verse. Praiseworthy is the person who is always afraid and the person who is hard in his heart will uh fall in evildoing or in evil uh evil experience. So now let's pause here. Okay. when you and it's not fair, but we're going to do it. Let's judge. What do you think he did wrong? >> They can't bring the sacrifice and also they cannot kill Balcamsa. He created a scenario which was between a rock and a hard >> okay and >> very inflexible. >> Okay. end. >> Okay, maybe I will rephrase. I maybe you are saying that did something that always poses a challenge to the rabbis which means not to make a decision. Aikaloo was very good to say what you can do. He forgot to tell us what is the alternative. If you don't bring the sacrifice or if you don't kill Balamsa, okay, give me what? A third alternative. But he does not. Which means we don't do anything. Which means Balcamsa is going to go back to Roman Caesar. Tell the Roman Caesar to what? The Jews rebelled against you and that's the end of it. That's one issue. Second issue. According to some historians, this is now a little bit of history. According to some historians was the head of the bullies. The bullies in Jerusalem. You remember there was different groups. There was the people who thought to what to create peace with the Romans. And there were the bironim the bullies who said no he was their head by bringing it to what to a dead end which means we can't bring the sacrifice and we kill cannot kill bakansa what is the alternative >> war okay so some historians want to claim that that was his uh his idea however the problem with that it might be that they are correct but the problem with that is what raanan say what he said his humility. Where do you find humility? The what? >> So sarcasm maybe. But why in say something else? >> By not making a decision, it looks like a very humble thing. You know, when you go to someone to ask the question, I know I'm not worthy. You know, I can't really make a decision. You know, I see two sides. But you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know. I didn't come here for, you know, you know, you know, you know. I came here for what? For >> a decision. If you can't, just tell me from the get-go. I can't move on. >> So, it's kind of like he wanted to save Yay. And didn't he wasn't able to say this is what we should do. He didn't have the power, the ability to go against the other side. >> He was just saying, "Oh, if you do this, then this will happen." Remember that? But he didn't give an alternative. It might be even though with Ysef we have a little bit of a different explanation that they didn't listen to him because he just didn't know what to say at the right time. That was his uh that was mostly his problem. He's is playing humble but by not making a decision the decision is going to what to be made for you. Meaning you have an option. You're going to make a decision with the consequences that you don't know or you're not going to make a decision and some of the consequences are probably very much known. You know that if you're not going to bring the sacrifice and you're not going to kill Bamza, Banta is going to what to go ahead and to report. Now, why am I'm thinking that this is the right interpretation because go back to the dinner to the meal. Baransa said what the rabbis were there while this gavra is taking me by the hand and getting me out of there and they did not say a word. What was the scenario there? So now we know this gavra is very wealthy guy. He invites everyone and invites the rabbis. Baram is also a very wealthy guy and he's also very well connected to the government. So there is tension between two right two very wealthy important makers in the community good I mean it's not good but this is the tension and the rabbis found themselves what between camps between the gavra and the bumps and what do they do >> nothing now but one second what do you expect them to do now let let's be realistic okay What? >> Okay. So, you're saying they're guests. What do you want them to do to live in demonstrating like what are they going to do? Think about it. >> They don't. >> Okay. So, they can go to this gaffa and tell him, "Look, there was probably a mistake. You know what? Let let him just stay here. He shouldn't wait for dessert. He can leave in immediately after the main course, leave a check plus a tip and leave him alone or alternatively to use it maybe as this is so nice that you invite them to turn it. It's probably a way to create harmony between both of you. Just imagine if you both going to be friends, Israel will be secured forever. You know, they could have said something or even to go to Barcam and say, "Baramza, just leave. Let us talk to this guy later on." But you know what? Now, it's just not the right to say something. By not saying anything, you created a situation. But now, let's go back to the puk. This is where I think is so important. What does that mean? Praiseworthy is a person who is always what? Afraid. Do you agree with that? >> Not at all. >> Okay. So, it's good. If the would say wonderful, that's okay. Wonderful. But here is the word. What? fear mameish fear not all fear so praiseworthy is the person who is always afraid afraid of what so >> that's very >> want to rectify what's going on >> very creative but I would say that is not only one person everyone needs to see it seems to be that this person is a so now I would like you You know what? Before I'll give you my uh my theory, what is the second half of the puk? What is >> So that sounds like right harden his heart. But how is that exactly connected and the son who and the one who is harden his heart is going to fall in evil? a tough guy. >> Tough guy. Okay. >> Okay. So, I would like to suggest to you the following. I read this puk and the understanding from the story in the following way. Decisions are essential to our lives and when you make a decision you try to do it with the most information that you have on hand at hand. The problem is always when you make decisions with not too much information, right? Those are the most difficult decisions when you don't know to predict what will happen. So on one hand praiseworthy is a person who is always afraid. However fear cause you paralysis this is the way I read it not who harden your heart like but it become you can't move it meaning it become a paralysis you will fall in what in evil. Exactly. The story came for what? To explain the puk not the kamsa and bamsa. It's about the scenario. The scenario is what is that people were afraid to make a decision. The rabbis at the dinner and after that and because of that it created what? Paralysis. what we call in Hebrew by the way even in Hebrew there is a a phrase I don't know if you have the same thing in English but mash you are paralyzed of fear can't move you are frozen exactly which is one of the things that happen when some people are afraid they become frozen this is the problem now why why is that so important it is so important Because when you don't make a decision, someone else will make a decision or a decision will be made for you. And that was the problem of the huban. By the way, if you think about um um the stories that we know about the huban, we know that there was really no no leadership. Meaning you had the bullies, okay, who were crazy extremists and you had the silent majority who were not able to do what? To make a decision and to overcome them. What did they had to do? Rabi Benzak, remember him? He had to sneak from Yushai with his two students Elzar and Rabi Yeshua and to beg the Roman Caesar for what? For >> for Yav. And for three things exactly. But to get out of Yusha. He didn't even ask what to help them to get rid of what of the bullies. I mean Gabrian and Benzakai could have gone to the Roman Caesar and tell him what hey I need your help. I will deliver to you and you will give us some kind of an autonomy. Just get rid of what? Of the billim. Answer is no. He asked for what? Maybe he thought that there is no way to uh to control them. But the idea is is what is that according to this reading we are calling that puk we are reading that on two possible people one is the rabbis and b is now if that's true who should not be blamed Kamza. What do you want from Kamza? Kam is not even in the story. He does not even know. Do you know who is Kamza? Okay, there is Augra, the dinner guy. Okay, there is the Bar Kam is the wealthy guy who went to the Roman Caesar. There are the rabbis and where is Kamza? Kamza is probably at home. Have no clue why he was not invited to what? To dinner. So he went to a different restaurant. The guy is not even there, >> right? He's not involved. And still his name is with the same sentence with so why would they blame? Ah, that's a question. like who not you have to be aware of what the kids are doing. >> Okay. But because of that uh you're going to blame me for the destruction of the beta mikdash. I can assure you that there are many other fathers their children were not sadikim. >> Oh okay. So it might be that that was just really Kam has nothing to do with this story just Kam. He was sent to Kam and he got Bam. Okay. And now I would like to ask you another question. Who would you definitely blame? I know you don't shoot him but I will. >> The Shalia. He was the one if he would invite Kamza like he was told nothing will happen. Yes. >> The issue here could be that council was publicly embarrassed. >> That's the problem. >> Uhhuh. >> And they hardened their heart to see this guy be embarrassed and thrown out of the dinner. That's the issue. >> That's for sure an issue, not the issue. It's an issue that the rabbis were expected to do what? to protest against against this guy, right? But they didn't. And that's exactly what Bakama said. Ah, from the fact that what that they did not react, it seems to be that they are in agreement with that. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, the Shal made a mistake. So, you don't shoot the very >> Ah, okay. So here is another theory. Maybe the Shalia purposely did it in order to what? >> Push the envelope >> exactly to not to push the envelope to try to appease Barama and this guy and say look at the dinner is definitely not going to scream at him and maybe they will sit together. Maybe they will talk. Maybe that will be the beginning of a better situation. But now I want to ask you another question. How can we explain such a behavior of the gavra and baram and the rabbis and what what I will explain. If I was this Gavra and I see the guy, I would be a bit embarrassed from the rabbis of start what screaming and yelling like it's a shandam I have the rabbis and I can tell him look quietly look I really hate you. I'm not going to make a a see as out of it right now because of those rabbis here but I'm telling you after you finish your fish you are out of here. Okay, I know. Pretend that you have a call and get out of here. I don't want to see you. The gava felt very comfortable to do what? >> To embarrass the guy probably knowing that what >> that he will not get any reaction from the rabbis. What does that say about rabbis versus Augra and Balcam? that the rabbis have no background. >> Okay. As a rabbi, it's a bit hard for me to criticize. And I'm not here to criticize. I'm just trying to really fully understand what is the message here. And it seems to be that the rabbis were a very weak or very dependable on dependent. Thank you. on gavra on this gavra or bama or more on this gavra less bam that might be it B it teaches me a little bit about the relationship between I will say it in Hebrew first hon what is hon wealth money and government okay which teaches me a little bit about that as well but third which also teach me that if the rabbis do not stand against injustice. The end is pretty much written which obviously bring us to today. Okay. And um not talking of politics because this is really not a shu about politics but it is a shu about the challenges of robinic leadership. And the challenge of forbidden leadership is how to lead in t in times where a extremist on both ends yelling and screaming and have no uh issues of using every trick in the book in order to get what to get their um get goal or their rights or or their agenda. And you need to be the normal voice, the balancing voice that basically bring people to try to deal with the main issue. By the way, we are being challenged, I'm saying rabbis being challenged with what? With everything from the left to the right, from the religious to the non-religious. Meaning nowadays the the challenges are all over all over the place. So what do you do now? I don't have a formula. I just know one thing for sure that if you're not going to lead, someone else is going to be to be the leader or you are going just to be led by others and then you know especially nowadays you know if you don't uh we have a problem I mean in nowadays if you don't react quickly someone else is going to do it. The problem is that sometimes you can't react quickly. You need to take a little bit of time to think about it. But while you are thinking, we are going to go to the second event already to the third event. You you are still talking about the first one. We are already on the fifth. So the idea is based on this story is that sometimes I mean humility is always great but to be humble in the wrong time it's not good. >> The what? That's that's true >> that humility does not mean running away from responsibility is to lead with humility but you need to lead if you if you are in a way look there is another point in this story and this is why I don't want to flip the page the rest of it is not necessarily related but the rest of it is something we'll see next next week. What I want you to look at that there's something interesting when Barcam brings the sacrifice the rabbis thought to what to sacrifice it. It should end there. No one asked >> why did they? >> Oh good. Why did they listen to him? Great. You are one against us. What does that mean? So it might be if the historians are correct and he was the spiritual leader of the bullies. So the rabbis were afraid, okay, that they don't listen to him. So the bullies will get upset, right? So that might be a good a good reason. But there might be a second reason that the rabbis themselves did not want to make a decision. How do I find it in the narrative itself? What is they considered? They thought >> they didn't say with passion. The Raban can say if they want, right? I'm telling you, go ahead, Cohen. Come here, Mr. Cohen. Take the sacrifice. Bring it back. They considered it because they themselves didn't know what to do because they were afraid from the social media what people would say and this is the new idea sensed what >> the doubt the indecision. Therefore what does he do? >> He creates more doubts. He created more doubts and more concerns for the rabbis. So now the rabbis in a way he is in a way telling them you have so many concerns I'm telling you those are the concerns trust me so what is the best thing to do leave it as is so we didn't do anything now I want to tell you sometimes oh wow sometimes there is an idea of chevas which means >> sit and don't do anything but not all the time we use it only from time to time. >> Yeah, sometimes not only that you are not allowed just to sit there that you cannot, you're just not even allowed to do it. If you see that there is a tremendous danger for the form is you can't just stand aside and say what you know how do we know? Yeah. Okay. Okay. I mean it's pretty easy to >> what >> not >> it's not the today either which means what we need to understand at least from that and we will see bizarre next week we'll see two different other aspects uh of this story but I think that the story what I try to do is a to open it up for other interpretations as well and also to try to understand how this story provides an interpretation to the puk that that's what Rabioan wanted to to do and also to create the idea of um of leadership at times that uh the unknown is uh is uh is really it's like weighing on everyone who needs to make a decision but still if you're not going to make it someone else will will make it for you and you want to be the leader if you are the balanced person and not allow someone else extreme uh to do it uh to do it for you. So that's for today. Next week we will conclude.