By Alex Bolotovsky, CEO of J Leaders
Parsha in a Nutshell
Parshat Devarim kicks off Moses’ farewell address. Standing at the edge of the Promised Land, he reflects on the Israelites’ 40-year journey, covering key moments like the appointment of judges (Deut. 1:9–18), the sin of the spies (1:19–46), and past battles (2:24–3:11). It’s part memoir, part accountability session, and part a call to step into what’s next.
Digging Deeper
1. Learn From History—Don’t Live In It
Moses recounts the people’s missteps, not to shame them, but to show what’s shaped them. He names the fear that held them back (1:28), the arguments that fractured trust (1:12), and the victories that proved they could rise (2:31–3:6).
But he doesn’t stay there. He doesn’t spiral in blame or nostalgia. Moses models how a leader can honor the past without getting stuck in it. He’s informed by the journey and he’s focused on the destination.
2. Rallying Around a Shared Vision
Throughout Devarim, Moses anchors the people’s future in a unifying message: “G-d is with you. This land is yours. Go take it.” (Deut. 1:21, 2:31, 3:18) That repetition isn’t just motivational; it’s strategic.
He takes scattered experiences and weaves them into a narrative of purpose. That’s what visionary leadership looks like: not just casting the “what,” but anchoring people in the “why” and the “we.”
Leadership Takeaway
Great leaders don’t dwell in the past but they don’t ignore it either. They reflect with honesty, then rally people around purpose, possibility, and shared momentum.
Weekly Leadership Challenge
This week, lead with reflection and alignment:
- Look back at one past challenge, ask what it taught you, not just what went wrong.
- Recast your team’s next step in a shared narrative: Where are we going, and why does it matter?
- Use language that brings others in not just to the task, but to the mission.