Thatcher Recalls the Rebbe and his Exemplary Leadership

Today came the saddening news of the passing of Margaret Thatcher first female British Prime Minster, known as the ‘Iron Lady’ for her staunch conservative stand. She came to know of the Rebbe during her tenure as the Minister of Education and to greatly admire him, she recalled the Rebbes exemplary leadership in an interview.

MARGARET THATCHER ON LEADERSHIP

The greatest quality of a person like that is fearless leadership. It is not enough to believe in things, you have to also proclaim them. The belief needs to be, that is has to shine out of you, because that is the way to influence other people. Such people live in a great intensity and the world has moved on into the future with such leaders.

The late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who I first came to know, when I visited the Lubavitch School in the east end of London. At the time I was minister of education of Great Britain and I was impressed with the behavior and scholarship of the children and the total dedication of the teachers.

Later I learned that the Rebbe was also dedicated to others, he stood for hours handing out dollars for charity and would pray for hours for others, in addition to heading vast institutions, while he was ninety years old.

This is leadership that I would like to honor! I honor the Rebbe, the work he has done and the inspiration which he has given to many. May his legacy will live on.

(Excerpts from an interview with Jerry Levine for a video produced by the Shul of Bal Harbor, Florida and an article written for Lubavitch Youth in Israel.)