According to the Torah, Moses brought the world democracy, but it required a little cajoling from his father-in-law. In Exodus, Moses’ father-in-law, Yitro, we see Moses struggling to administer the affairs of leadership of the Israelites. Yitro says: “This thing you are doing is not right, for you will wear yourself out.” Yitro advises Moses to appoint judges and magistrates to share the burden. Moses heeds the advice and appoints the assistants.

When the story is retold in Deuteronomy, Moses tells of being overburdened by the task of managing the Israelites—Yitro’s name doesn’t even appear— but in this telling Moses says that he asked the Israelites to choose their own leaders and only affirmed them after they agreed to his plan. Clearly, Deuteronomy’s version elevates the people’s role in choosing their own leaders. In a sense, it describes the Torah’s first revolutionary glimmerings of a democratic process.

So, as the world’s first bearers of democracy, we have inherited a profound responsibility to strengthen the one in which we live right now.  This week’s series of morning reflections is only the first in a series of messages calling on the Wise community to become deeply engaged in the upcoming election.  It is a reminder of our civic duty as Americans and it is an expression of our people’s legacy first attributed to Moses in our ancient Torah.

— Rabbi Ron Stern