The great 19th-century ethicist Rabbi Israel Salanter insists that one who neglects to consult others while making important decisions is not qualified to be a leader of a Jewish community. This is what he writes in one of his letters:
“One who stands firm and stubbornly maintains their original position without seeking the advice of others is prohibited from becoming a rabbi or rabbinical judge. If one clings to their original position and does not consider the possibility that they are in error, they are doubly negligent; not only have they stubbornly adhered to error and faulty reasoning, but they have misled those who follow their teachings and rulings.”
Questions to Consider and Discuss:
- Why is it so important for a leader to consult with others?
- Why must we be open to being wrong?