Leaders of the Past, Present, and the Future

In this week's Megillot class, we discussed the downfall of Shlomo. At the tender age of twelve, Shlomo asked for the ability to discern between good and evil. Hashem granted him his wish with the potential for good, and Shlomo was prominently known throughout the land. People arrived from near and far to seek out his wisdom, and Shlomo was immensely successful, both spiritually and militarily. However, as time wore on, Shlomo began to acquire too many horses, wives, and money, and his heart strayed from Hashem. He also became increasingly haughty, and was eventually told that his sons would suffer the repercussions of his actions.

Studying the story of Shlomo evoked many concepts of leadership. Some of the most pressing questions that entered my mind were: What makes a good leader? Do the values and expectations of leaders change as societies evolve?

Shlomo was an excellent leader, prior to his collapse. He expanded his borders, boosted the nation's economy, and built the Beit Hamikdash, thus securing a powerful kingdom in both the religious/spiritual aspect and in the military/economical realm. However, the power corrupted him. Shlomo began to forget that G-d was above him and that his purpose was to bring the people closer to G-d, as a spiritual leader. Shlomo failed at doing so, and by the end of his rule, his heart was not complete with Hashem as it had been before.

I will now fast-forward to the fourteenth century, when the Renaissance began. During our World History II class this week, we discussed an excerpt of The Prince, a political treatise written during the Renaissance by the Italian diplomat and political theorist, Niccolò Machiavelli. The excerpt we read questioned whether a king/prince should be feared or loved. Machiavelli came to the conclusion that a leader should be feared in a manner that does not conjure up animosity or hatred. He should also refrain from seizing the land and women of his subjects.

Machiavelli stressed that being a good leader meant that he needed to have respect and boundaries towards those around him. The king does not deserve anything he desires because of his title. He has to be a king who attends to the needs of the people, not only to himself. Power should not and cannot overcloud his judgements of right and wrong, but should benefit the people.

Now, I will focus on today's day and age. John Adams once said, "Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases." This quote is so applicable to our lives. "We are the leaders of tomorrow," as we are often told. Our generation carries an immense responsibility. As young leaders, we need to know the way, go the way, and show the way to others.

No matter the society or time period, maintaining virtue and integrity when given power can sometimes be a difficult, but not insurmountable task. We need to be able to focus on using power for good. We must channel the power we are given to benefit others, and help make the world a better place.