"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."
In Modern Hebrew, the word for a driver is Nahag (נהג). It shares a linguistic root with Manhig (מנהיג)—a leader. On the surface, the connection makes sense: a driver leads a vehicle to its destination. However, we should be careful not to confuse the two in our political life.
Perhaps we would be better served if we viewed politicians merely as Nahagim (drivers) rather than Manhigim (leaders). In our Mesora, true leadership is a heavy mantle worn by the likes of Moshe Rabbeinu—figures who guide the soul and the spirit. Modern politicians, by contrast, are just Askanim (public functionaries) or like the Gabbai of a shul. Their job isn't to provide us with a moral compass; it is to ensure the "shul" runs smoothly, the bills are paid, and the logistics are handled. When we look at figures like Trump or Bibi, we should see them as the people behind the wheel of the state bus—not as the moral architects of our lives.
