The ethics and morals of leaders are of essential importance.
Pirkei Avot is the most well-known section of the Mishna as it is dedicated to articulating the Sages’ ethical messages. Surprisingly, according to the Rambam (Introduction to Rambam’s Commentary to the Mishna), it was not written for the masses but rather specifically for the leaders and judges of the community, “because if members of the masses are not ethically trained, they only harm themselves, whereas if the judge/leader is not an ethical and well-mannered personality, he loses his way and causes the people to be lost via the harm he causes.”
It was corrupt leadership that brought the destruction of the world in the mabul, the great flood. “The sons of elohim saw that the daughters of man were lovely, and they began to take whomever they chose to be their wives.” (Bereishit 6:2) Rashi follows the translation of Onkelos and understands that these “sons of elohim” were the children of the leaders and judges of the time, leading Ramban to comment that society is doomed when those charged with preserving order and justice in society are themselves corrupt.
In this context, we can have a completely different understanding of God’s instruction to Noach upon his emergence from the ark: “One who sheds the blood of man—by man shall his blood be shed, for in God’s image man was made” (Bereishit 9:6). The verse here is introducing the death penalty for a murderer and it is being justified by the significance of the life he has destroyed. Yet all indications are that at this point man was further away than ever from reflecting God’s image. Why is now the time to elevate the significance and godliness of the victim and therefore initiate the death penalty for his murder?
In context, however, we understand that the “men in God’s image” referenced here are not the victims but the judges, those sons of Elokim—the gods of the earth—whose essence and actions are supposed to reflect the essence and actions of the God in heaven but often fall short. After the disaster of the flood was brought on by the corruption and failure of the judges and leaders, Hashem turns to man and charges him to lead society towards truth and justice by zealously safeguarding it. “One who sheds the blood of man—by man shall his blood be shed.” Leadership cannot sit by and watch impassively as evil is perpetrated; they must respond, “for in God’s image man was made.” Corrupt and failed leaders destroy the world. Those who strive to live up to the Divine image of care and responsibility redeem it.
Rabbi Moshe Hauer is executive vice president of the Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization.
