Adaptability has been an essential ingredient for surviving and thriving for every species of life, from life's beginning on earth...
So if your community [has to choose] one skill set, one capacity, one competency to help ensure going forward successfully, choose adaptability.
Preface to Leadership on the Line, Heifetz & Linsky
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel and the Rabbis disagreed:
One said: Sinai, i.e., one who is extremely knowledgeable, is preferable;
One said: One who oker harim (mountain uprooter), i.e., one who thinks outside the box, is preferable.
Guiding Questions
- In your opinion: who are "Sinais" and who are "mountain uprooters." What are the characteristics of these types of people?
The Talmud continues...
Rav Yosef was Sinai; Rabba was oker harim (uproots mountains)
Which takes precedence? ...Sinai is preferable, as the Master said: Everyone requires the owner of the wheat, i.e., one who is expert in the sources.
Even so, Rav Yosef did not accept upon himself the appointment of head of the yeshiva [but rather deferred to] Rabba who reigned for twenty-two years, and then Rav Yosef reigned.
Guiding Questions
- Do you agree that Sinai is preferable?
- What do we learn from Rav Yosef's to defer to Rabba's leadership in spite of the claim that Rav Yosef was preferable?
The Talmud continues... What is the conclusion? Which is preferable?
It concludes Teku (The dilemma shall stand unresolved.)
Guiding Question
- What can we learn from the Talmud leaving this conversation unresolved?