Heavy Heavy

נָבֹ֣ל תִּבֹּ֔ל גַּם־אַתָּ֕ה גַּם־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמָּ֑ךְ כִּֽי־כָבֵ֤ד מִמְּךָ֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר לֹא־תוּכַ֥ל עֲשֹׂ֖הוּ לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃

You will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Exodus 18:18

These days, I juggle three full-time roles: rabbi, lawyer, and caretaker to my mother. Perhaps there’s even a fourth—expressing moral disapproval while watching cable news. Sometimes, the weight feels overwhelming, yet I remain unwilling to scale back my commitments.

In Parshat Yitro of the Torah, Moses similarly takes on multiple roles: judge, military leader, diplomat, and spiritual guide. Given the heaviness of the tasks and without a model for collaborative governance, Moses becomes physically and mentally exhausted. Despite the burden, Moses continues in all these roles without setting boundaries. It takes the wisdom of his father-in-law, Jethro, a Midianite priest, to recognize the issue and offer corrective advice.

The Hebrew word for “heavy” is “kabed” (כבד), which signifies both literal weight and metaphorical importance. Interestingly, it can also convey honor and glory. Yet, along with honor and glory can come unhealthy burdens.  By taking on too many roles and centralizing power, Moses created an unsustainable governance model.

There are profound lessons in this simple vignette—for individuals and as a collective:

1. Should we offer constructive critique or assistance when we see someone we care about burdened by responsibilities?
2. How can we encourage someone to reevaluate methods when they’ve taken on too much?
3. Are we as open to receiving advice from family members as we are from colleagues? Would it make a difference if Jethro were merely a father-in-law or only the priest of another nation?
4. What qualities of Moses can we emulate to receive suggestions, evaluate them, and adapt when necessary?
5. What lessons can we draw as a nation when leadership becomes overly centralized?
6. A personal question I ask myself is: “Will the world stop turning if I don’t try to handle every role as a full-time job?”

The Torah reminds us to remain open to critique because wisdom often comes from unexpected places. Moses exemplifies the humility required to reflect on weighty issues and make necessary changes. The burden is too heavy to have multiple full time jobs. And on a national level, even in precarious times, no leader should consolidate too much power in themselves.

Rabbi Evan J. Krame