Concerns about demagogues, celebrity, and the shallow pursuit of notoriety seem to be modern concerns. But the attractions of charisma and power are as old as the Torah and are rooted in the earliest strata of human civilization. In this week’s parasha, R’eih, our tradition seeks to differentiate authentic prophecy from that of convincing pretenders. The old adage that “a broken clock is correct twice a day” seems to apply to the ancient wannabe seer, whose predictions occasionally come to pass. The Torah teaches that counseling against its precepts in pursuit of idolatry is the mark of false prophecy. That individual must be expunged from the community. The temptations of populist leaders were as much a cause of concern for our ancestors as they are currently. This admonition and awareness have informed our people throughout our history and remain acutely relevant today. When a leader departs from the path of decency, goodness, and righteousness—in deed or in character—we are commanded to rise in defense of our most fundamental principles.
