As we near the end of Elul and head quickly toward Rosh Hashanah, I’ve been thinking more than ever about how I want to change for the better in the new year. What traits must I incorporate to make a difference in this world and myself?
When looking for guidance, there is no better place than the Torah. Its pages contain heroes who exhibited leadership, bravery, and strength amid extreme hardship. Among these biblical titans is Moses.
Moses is among my favorites and one of the top figures I have looked to for inspiration. He emits countless qualities that motivate me to be a better person, and below, I have listed 3 of his key traits that we should all strive for in the new year.
Self-honesty
Moses was honest about his flaws. When God requested that he lead the Israelites to freedom he expressed his fear and insecurities. He admitted his lack of faith in himself. God clearly believed otherwise and molded Moses into the leader he needed to be.
Before we can grow into the people we are meant to be, we need to be honest with ourselves about our flaws and feelings of insecurity. You can’t build upon a broken foundation. Growth takes some honest self-reflection.
This may seem like a no-brainer. Of course, we should be honest with ourselves. But, there are times when self-honesty doesn’t come easy. The process can be as painful as pulling away a stuck bandage. You know it won’t be pleasant but it’s something you have to do.
Integrity
Moses grew up in Egyptian Royalty but after learning about his Hebrew heritage he developed a compassion for the plight of his people who had been in slavery for hundreds of years. Moses could have easily ignored the truth and continued to live a life of privilege but instead chose to heed God’s request and delivery his people to freedom.
Integrity means doing what’s right, even when no one is watching; even when there is no reward. It’s doing the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do. For most of us, this seems obvious as well. Of course, we always act with integrity. But do we?
I think it’s worth taking a closer look, especially as we enter a new Jewish year. Over the month of Elul, I have had to reflect on my choices over the past year, come to terms with my mistakes, and construct a plan to ensure my future decisions are made with integrity. When it’s all said and done we are only human. We make mistakes.
Bravery
God’s request that Moses stand up to the Pharoah and demand freedom for the Israelites must have been overwhelming. Despite all he had to fear, Moses bravely accepted God’s request that he deliver the Israelites to freedom after years of slavery.
This meant standing up to the Pharoah to demand the Israelite’s release. Can you imagine the pressure Moses must have felt? Moreover, he set aside his fears, bravely executed God’s request, and led his people to freedom.
Acting with courage and facing our challenges with bravery isn’t always easy. It’s out of our comfort zone. I can’t tell you how often my instinct has told me to avoid these difficulties like the plague.
But ultimately, during these challenging times, we do our best work as humans and learn the most valuable lessons when we face these struggles head-on. As we head into the new year I will be careful not to be ruled by fear, know that God is by my side, and bravely welcome even the most challenging situations.
Conclusion
These three traits are just the tip of the iceberg. There is much more to learn from Moses, but, the big takeaway is that the Torah provides a compass as we journey through life.
Through the stories of our ancestors, we can learn valuable lessons and traits that can help us navigate life’s challenges and become better people. Here is my hope for all of us as we venture into this new Jewish year: may all become the loving, kind, and strong humans God want’s us to be. Shana Tova!
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