Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the legal technicalities of how an acquisition of a flock of sheep is finalized:

Reish Lakish says in the name of Rabbi Yannai: With regard to one who sells a flock of sheep to another, once he conveys the mashkukhit to the buyer, he has acquired the flock.

But what is this “mashkukhit”? It is referring to the goat that goes at the front of the flock that they follow. The Gemara notes: This explanation of Rabbi Ya’akov is similar to that which a certain Galilean taught in the presence of Rav Ḥisda concerning this goat: When a shepherd is angry with his flock, he renders the goat leading them, i.e., the mashkukhit, blind. (This way all the goats that follow will stumble.) Similarly, when God is angry with the Jewish people, he appoints unsuitable leaders for them.

This is a powerful statement of accountability.  Classically, when people are unhappy with the government they blame the leaders. However, in a God-centered society, accountability is on everyone because nothing is random. Of course the leaders are responsible for their actions qua leaders, but the people are liable as well. One of my favorite professors, Norman Tokayer Z”L, used to say, “You know, just because your mother hated you, does not mean you had to believe her.”  He meant to push back against the popular psychoanalytic mother-bashing, which was to say that human choice and individual responsibility exists no matter our upbringing and leadership.  And, our Gemara turns this on its head. Not only are we responsible for ourselves despite our leaders, but we are even responsible for our leaders.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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