Our ancient rabbis teach in Pirkei Avot, the Sayings of our Ancestors, that it is not our responsibility to finish the task, but nor are we free to avoid it (2:21).
It is a lesson that even Moses, especially Moses, the leader of the ancient Israelites, needed to learn himself. Leading all of the people is an all-consuming task for Moses and no surprise, drained him greatly. Moses’ father-in-law, Yitro, was a leader of his own clan and offered Moses advice. He told Moses that Moses would wear himself out if he kept working like this. He suggested Moses delegate some of his tasks to trusted companions.
If Moses is limited in his capacity, then surely, we, too, are limited. What are the ways in which you feel overstretched in your own life? How can we find ways to share our burdens with others? What would it take for us each to internalize that we must engage in the tasks of the day but that we are not responsible to finish all of the work ourselves?
– Rabbi Avi Fine