06/02/2012

Pause For Thought: Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers

This week on Pause For Thought we are going to be thinking about leadership, to mark two events: many Muslims will be celebrating the birth of the Prophet Mohammed, and on February 6th 60 years ago the Queen ascended to the throne.

As a religious leader, I often find I’m uncomfortable with the authority people may automatically give me, particularly as at times I feel like I’m still 11 and can’t quite understand how I come to be talking to some million Radio 2 listeners! I generally view the title ‘Rabbi’ as a tool that allows me into people’s lives at both high and low times, and enables me to empower them to find joy and meaning in their Judaism. Then again, as a relatively young woman, I’m also aware that authority is one of those things that has to be earned, and is often not given so easily.

Just last week though, I attended a seminar that pointed out that authority is not the same as leadership. People are often given authority, such as a president, PM, or indeed a religious leader. However once in power, those that gave them authority tend to want them to maintain the status quo. We may elect leaders because they promise lower taxes. But if they lower taxes and cut services, we are usually not all that happy! A leader, on the other hand, may not necessarily have all that much authority, but is able to lead through a period of change because their authority doesn’t depend on it. I wonder how many of us are conscious of who we give authority and power to in our lives, and how that impacts what we allow from them.

We need to allow leaders to bring change, and as Proverbs says, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’. Our governments at the moment are tasked with an enormous job; cut the deficit and boost the economy, but don’t forget to protect the weak and the vulnerable. When it seems they might not manage both of these, grassroots leaders, often the vulnerable themselves, are springing up, trying to make sure we can be lead through these difficult changes, whilst maintaining dignity and justice within our society. They might not have much authority, but if we allow them to help lead us for a little while, hopefully our authority figures will also be able to take us through these difficult changes, without compromising on the basic needs of the most vulnerable among us.