By COLlive reporter
American conservative radio host and political commentator Glenn Beck quoted extensively from the Luabvitcher Rebbe’s teachings about leadership on his daily talk show.
“What makes a good leader? Glenn was given a book over the weekend, Towards a Meaningful Life, and he felt it revealed a lot about what makes a good leader,” his blog read.
The controversial Beck read 4 lengthy paragraphs from the best selling book “Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson” authored in 1995 by Simon Jacobson.
Beck used the quotes to attack political leaders in Washington DC and elsewhere from both the Republican and Democrat parties.
Here is what he read on the show (quotes taken from a transcript of his show, not the book):
“In our secular society we tend to think of a leader as a person who’s well connected or who is powerful or charismatic or wealthy. We judge leaders by what they have. But a true leader should be judged by what he has not: Ego, arrogance, and self-interest.
“A true leader sees his work as a selfless service towards a higher purpose. As the sages say leadership is not power and dominance. It is servitude.That doesn’t mean that a leader is weak. He derives great strength from his dedication to a purpose that is greater than himself.
“Every generation has its Moses, a leader who inspires absolute trust, who is totally dedicated to fulfilling his unique role. He understands and appreciates each person’s role in perfecting this world and guides him or her accordingly. He rises above any individual perspective to take a global view, seeing how much each person and each issue fits into the entire scheme of the contemporary world.
“A true leader shakes people from their recovery and tells them, no, you don’t need to live a life of desperation and confusion. Yes, you do have the ability to find meaning in your life and the unique skills to fulfill that meaning. You’re an important link in a chain of generations past. You have a legacy worth preserving and a future worth fighting for.
“A true leader shows us that our world is indeed heading somewhere and that we control its movement. That we need not be at the mercy of personal prejudices or prevailing political winds, that none of us is subservient to the history or nature that we are history and nature. That we can rid the world of war and hate and ignorance, obliterate the borders that separate race from race and rich from poor.
Still many people have lost faith in contemporary leaders. The solution is not to resign yourself to the sad state of affairs but to search for and demand a leader of sterling character. The ultimate goal should be to have all the benefits of a democracy and the benefits of a visionary leader.
“It’s important especially today to distinguish between leadership and demagoguery. A demagogue may inspire people but his motives are impure and his expectations are unrealistic. It is wise to be a bit skeptical when assessing a leader. Is he truly devoted to his mission or just seeking glory? Is he truly interested in the welfare of others or simply building a flock for his own self aggrandizement?
“A true leader does not seek followers. He wants to teach others how to be leaders. He doesn’t want control. He wants truth. He doesn’t impose his leadership on others, nor does he take away anyone’s autonomy. He inspires by love, not coercion. When it comes time to take credit, he makes himself invisible. But he is the first to arrive at a time of need, and he will never shrink away in fear. He is so passionate about your welfare that when you consult him for guidance, it’s like coming face to face with yourself for the first time.”
Glenn Beck concluded by asking his listeners, estimated in the millions:
“Does that sound like any leader we have in America? It’s the antithesis really of almost every leader we have of both sides.”
OMG, do you see whats happening in Syria? In spite of a brutal government crackdown, the manifestations continue
where does that come in to evryone: who cares we need mashiach now
JACKIE MASON FOR PRESIDENT!!!
glen beck quotes “It’s important especially today to distinguish between leadership and demagoguery.” when he is the biggest demagogue (after bob grant).
guys, not everyone who bashes obama is a good person. and it is a pitty that the rebbe is being used for that.
There is no greater respect, admiration or support for Israel than among American evangelicals — and oftentimes DESPITE the behavior of American Jews.
Who isn’t sick and tired of the facade and fakers ?
-Benveniste
What’s the dif if he converts to Judaism or not. A goy doesn’t need to convert to our side. In fact the sane truth seekers would probably become noahides as opposed to going from goyishkeit to checking their suits for shatnez!
I’m a big fan, but it was really in bad taste that he had evans speak. In Jewish tradition, a Jew who converts to christianity is spiritually very inappropriate, so for Beck to have had a Jew who converted to their side, to speak in the Jewish state, showed a lack of thinking it through. It reminds me of the MBD song, “Jerusalem is not for sale”. I actually liked almost everything else in the Israel program, besides the holocaust video that was way too long and boring. It was a half an hour long! As a rule of thumb,… Read more »
you have obviously never watched his show or listened to this sick man, every second using hitler and the holocaust to further his agenda, hes the worst type, he smiles at your face, but only intends on sticking u in the back. a true goy!
Glenn Beck is a truth seeker – i believe he will convert to Judaism someday. His agenda is to be a righteous gentile and to encourage other goyim to have the courage to stand with Israel. In his link on GBTV he recommended all to read the book (Towards a meaningful Life).
all this positivity makes me sick…
hes just saying that glenn beck is a controvesial guy which is absolulely true, he wasn’t saying that what he did was cntroversial, its just that beck is a bit of a nut most of the time….
While I fully agree that Glenn Beck says and does many things to support Am yisroel and and Eretz yisroel – #5 is 100% right – the evangelicals have one true agenda – make yidden in christains. And if you think I am creating a conspiracy theory then listen to this story told to me by a baalebus of mine one Shabbos – He met an Evangelical christian in a hotel once who started praising jews, Israel etc etc, so my BB turns to him and says, “tell me something honestly – DO you support us so that we will… Read more »
Who cares what his alterior motives are, you are either against or for Israel. Why would someone benefit from supporting Israel in our day an age!??? The Torah states it clearly but much of civilization throughout history did not follow that but chose instead to persecute us. Instead of attacking and criticizing all the time you should be relieved that there are some goyim with brain cells B”H !!!!!! Mormon Shormon protestant who cares …If they have the chochma to be on our side maybe one day they will have the chochma to follow the 7 noahide laws. Masiach now!!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN NUMBER 21 MAKES A VERY IMPORTANT POINT. I think in this debate HE is write ……..(-:
As you may know, Rabbi Simon Jacobson, was the Rebbe’s chozer and maniach, who documented and published all the Rebbe’s talks for around 15 years, many of which were personally edited by the Rebbe, in addition to the Rebbe having responding to all the queries of the chozrim and manichim.
Toward a Meaningful Life is by far the only book that presents the Rebbe’s teachings to global audiences — the first book shluchim give to anyone they meet. Everyone seems to feel that this is an excellent book, and one that offers the Rebbe’s teachings with integrity and authenticity.
What have you got against Mormons? Maybe you’re the one with your own agenda.
#23, I know all about Hagee, and he is a true ohev yisroel, one couldn’t ask for better from a goy. He’s every bit as good as Antoninus or Shevur Malka or any of the goyim whom Chazal befriended. And you have a chutzpah to call him names.
Remember who Beck’s friends are and who Jon Voigts friends are. I rest my case.
instead of looking up shtus on the internet look up these people who i have mentioned. remember truth hurts reality bites.
this guy is antisemitic and only uses yidishkeit and Israel to further his own agenda!!!
in the sond its not HaRebbe Shlita.
it’s HaRabi Shlita
what he was doing was quoting jacobson, not the rebbe………..
Glenn Beck demonstrated to me that he is a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people. He exposes antisemitism for what it is and has the courage to say it publicly. I attended his rally in Caesarea recently and firmly believe that he is more concerned about the welfare of the State of Israel and the Jews living here than many liberal Jews in the US.
By Glenn Becks rally in Isreal Jon Voight spoke. He spoke about Chabad/dancing Rabbis for about five minutes. Worth listening too!
wawo, not bad
Don’t put your faith in Non-Jews..
Maybe if he could also be aservant of Hashem by learning about the sheva mitzvos and convincehis friends Evans and Hagee about them. to perach the sheva mitzvos instead of the stuff they believe in. his friends
The controversial Beck read 4 lengthy paragraphs from the best selling book “Toward a Meaningful Life:
Whats so controversial? This is another twist from the liberal left! He stands up for Israel in a time not many other TV hosts will do! hamiven yavim
Can anyone find the audio and post a link? Would love to hear it.
To all the purists:
Ever heard of “gam charvona zochur latov”? That means that one doesn’t have to be perfect to the right thing (remember Arthur Shindler? Think he was perfect? But he saved many Yidden). Beck is a voice of moral clarity on a lot of issues in a very dark time. He is standing up boldly for the sake of BN”Y.
Ain Lonu l’hisho’ain eloh al Avinu shebashomayim!
how did he introduce this?
Go Glenn beck, we need a few more of you to get us out of the mess, any mess!
calm down .all the people u mentioned are very pro israel .they are the friends we need now .we dont have anyone .without the evangelicals in americs we would have america against israel .is obama better ????
#4 we are a minority and need to appreciate outside support from any influential people including Glen Beck at the same time we need to be careful that non of these Pastors are supporting Israel only for the chance of converting yidden CH”V
To #4: It could be that many christians who are good to Israel & the Jewish People have some ulterior motive. But we don’t see that. What we see in a guy like Glenn Beck, is a constant moral clarity in support of Israel & the Jewish people. They believe in the posuk “Those who bless you will be blessed” (Bereishis 12:3). Or avner in Russia was given over $11 million by christians for Jewish projects there. Doesn’t sound very messianic to me…
Hagee is a true ohev yisroel, and you have no business calling him evil. I’ve never heard of the other one, but I’m sure your evil words about him are false too. Of course these people are Christians; did you think anyone imagined otherwise? Or did you think most Christians don’t really believe in their religion, and you’re shocked that these ones do? Maybe that’s because you don’t believe in your religion.
BH be warned Glenn Beck had a rally in Israel with two main speaker Pastor Evans and Pastor Hagee. Glen Beck is a lasped Catholic who became Mormon. Pastar Evans’s mother is a Jew and is with Jews for J. Pastor Hagee is responsible for giving millions to various yishuvim and he says he is a big supporter of Israel. DO NOT BE FOOLED . PASTOR HAGEE IS DAY/STAR TELEVISION. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A 24/7 CHRISTAIN CABLE STATION THAT IS IN MILLIONS OF THESE YISHUV’S IN ERETZ YISROEL.BOTH OF THESE EVIL PASTORS SAY THE THINGS THAT PLEASES UNAFFILIATED AND… Read more »
nobody listens to him since he left FOX
You don’t quote the Rebbe to Bash…anyone.
Ein Kamocha BaOlam…
Glenn is more of a chosid than many I know.
He understands what toichen means.
and it’s not how many maamarim you know by heart!
I think every yid can learn ALOT from this.