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From the President:
Introductory Message
Professor Albus Dumbledore is my favorite character in the series of Harry Potter
novels. In J.K. Rowling's second book, The Chamber of Secrets, the Professor inspires
Harry by saying, "It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our
abilities". Dumbledore motivates him, telling him that despite our limitations or
talents, it is ultimately the decisions we make that form human character.
The Book of Shemot depicts the most classic of all decisions in a challenge presented
to the young Moses. God approaches Moses and asks him to lead the Jewish People from
slavery in Egypt. He replies, "Please, my Lord, I am not a man of words" (4:10). He
hesitates as he does not feel he can lead the Jewish People against the Egyptians. Most
scholars attribute this to a speech impediment. Rashi comments that he "speaks with
heaviness". Moses' difficulty with public speaking poses an obstacle that he has to
overcome. He could choose to hide behind his disability or conquer it by freeing the
Jewish People. The text highlights how even the greatest of leaders has inner struggles,
but he ultimately chooses to rescue his people; he chooses to overcome his obstacle.
Harry Potter also had to overcome a speaking problem. He is a unique wizard in that
he understands Parseltongue, the language of the snakes. Fellow students victimize him
because of his special ability. When he overcame the discrimination of his peers, he
bravely saved a girl and the school.
Both Moses and Harry decided that they needed to overcome their hurdles. Moses, with
his speech impediment, was hesitant. Harry, upon being ridiculed by his classmates, was
hesitant. But they both made the right decision- they both took positive action,
overcoming their obstacles, for the greater good.
In the same way, we have to overcome roadblocks in making the right Jewish choices in
our daily lives. Whether it is about the "smaller" things in life, like choosing not to
eat pizza with pepperoni on it, or about the bigger decisions, like choosing to visit
Israel, we, as Conservative Jewish teenagers must make the right choices despite any
obstacles in our path.
Józef Garlinski, in his book Fighting Auschwitz, said, "Unlimited, however, are the
moral and physical powers, which man has within him." We have the power, we have the
ability. However, it is our choices that shape our character. It is our choices that
make the difference, that determine how we use our power and abilities to positively
influence every path we take in our lives.
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