By Danny Cohen

If I said the word leader to you, what would be the first image to pop up in your mind? Would it be a king, a president, a dictator? For most of us, those images would be the ones we imagine when we hear the word leader. But what does God consider a leader to be? Throughout history, the world has always had rulers, but very few leaders. A leader is someone who is more concerned with the well-being of others than himself or herself. The purpose of a leader is to serve others, not to rule them. Our image of what a leader looks like has become so twisted, we don’t even realize what God has asked us to do as leaders.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been in a leadership course at my temple (Beth Hallel) with my youth leaders. The first class I had with them was about the meaning of being a leader. According to the Bible, a leader is truly just a servant. A Shamash, in Hebrew means servant, and who was the greatest servant of all? If you didn’t answer Yeshua, please seek some help from your local rabbi. Yeshua showed us over and over again how to be a servant to others.

The most effective and personal example, at least in my opinion, was when he washed the disciples’ feet. John 13: 4-5 says this, “So he [Yeshua] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

At first glance that seems a little gross and a little weird. He is the Son of God, why would he wash their feet? Aside from this being a sign that He can cleanse us from our sins, it shows his love and his spirit of servant hood. In ancient times, people didn’t really have many opportunities to shower. So, it’s pretty obvious that after weeks of walking around the hot Israeli terrain, the disciples’ feet would be smelly and down right nasty. Normally, a domestic servant or slave would be the ones to do the feet washing. However, Yeshua humbled Himself and washed their feet. Yeshua showed us the importance of serving and the humility and love that goes along with it.

We must help others and not be afraid to do something we may feel is “beneath us”. Yeshua is God and He still washed the disciples’ feet and died on the cross. How can we refuse to serve? We can’t be afraid to roll up our sleeves and serve the Lord. Yeshua showed us that being a leader is not about power, and position, and authority. It’s about being a servant. We must take up the basin and the towel and make a difference in people’s lives for God. Everyone can be a leader because everyone can be a servant. What will you be? Choose to serve the Lord and see what happens. Be a leader. Step up to the plate and serve.   

About the Author

Danny Cohen is sixteen years old and lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He has been a member of Congregation Beth Hallel for the last five years and a member of the Temple Teens from the last two. Danny sings in the Temple Teen band and loves to play sports and be with friends. His old brother, Josh, goes to Wheaton College. Deuteronomy 31:8 is his favorite verse and he can’t wait for Messiah ’08