Shabbat Pinchas

Qualities of Leadership

In addition to the spiritual and ritual laws of the Torah, themes of leadership run through all five books, sometimes overtly and sometimes subtly. An obvious example is the chapters of the Torah we have been reading (Bemidbar, from Chapter 11 to Chapter 28), in which the leadership of Moshe was constantly challenged.

There were mass protests against Moshe (Bemidbar 11). And then ( Bemidbar 11:26) two men, Eldad and Medad, were prophesying outside the Tabernacle. Joshua saw this as a challenge to Moshe and wanted to get rid of them. Moshe replied that he would be happy if everyone were a prophet and had the Divine spirit. Then Miriam and Aaron attacked Moshe ( Bemidbar 12) publicly, claiming that God spoke to them too and throwing back at Moshe his own words, “ We are all holy and God has spoken to us too.”

After the failure of the scouts to recommend invading Canaan again, the people threatened to stone Moshe ( Bemidbar 14). There followed a rebellion over food and manna, and Moshe had to justify himself by insisting he had never personally gained anything from his leadership. The most serious challenge was from Korach ( Bemidbar 16). Yet even after Moshe was vindicated, another rebellion arose over water, and Moshe hit the rock instead of speaking to it. This led to his death before entering Canaan. And last week (Bemidbar 25), Pinchas took the initiative in stopping the defiance of Moshe and Aharon when they seemed so shocked by the blatant defiance of Zimri that they could not respond to the blatant challenge to his authority.

These incidents show the constant challenges that Moshe had to face. They illustrate the nature of leadership and its pitfalls. How quickly admiration can turn sour. Moshe is very much a reluctant leader and pleaded not to be given his role. Yet he stepped up to the challenge and struggled constantly with the stiff-necked children of Israel who on the one hand accepted his remarkable persona, yet time and again they said let’s appoint another leader and go back to Egypt. It is amazing that only twice did he lose his temper. In response to the Golden Calf, and then over the waters of Meriva. And that was the excuse that God needed to tell him he was not going to go into the land of Israel and complete the task that he had begun. You can understand this as a lesson that nobody, however great, is indispensable, and we all have our limitations.

There are other examples of Moshe being willing to deal with specific requests and issues and consulting when necessary. And he is described as being a man of humility, the humblest of men ( Bemidbar 12:3).

When Moshe is sentenced to die, he immediately concerns himself with succession and turns to God (Bemidbar 27) and describes the qualities of leadership “appoint someone from the community who will go out before them and come in before them and lead them forward.” A man of the community and yet above them. Yet he did not ask for his sons to succeed him. God replied that such a man was Joshua. He led the battle against Amalek ( the strong man). He was with Moshe at Sinai ( the spiritual man), and he had apprenticed himself to Moshe to learn from him, and seen when to be aggressive and when compliant.

This theme of leadership and its challenges recurs throughout the Bible, particularly with regard to King David, the challenges of authority, and family. When to stand firm and when to accept one’s limitations, and the failures to intervene. To be humble, not arrogant and not take advantage of one’s position. But the ideal is to combine spiritual with physical strength and humility.

There is no perfect political system, just as there is no perfect leader. Throughout our history, we have found different ways of governance and different forms of leadership. Different schools of rabbis, sects and subdivisions. Now, probably more than at any other time in our history.

We need leaders with humanity, humility and the strength to lead us into a new promised land.

Bemidbar Chapters 25:10-30:1

 

Rabbi Jeremy Rosen lives in New York. He was born in Manchester. His writings are concerned with religion, culture, history and current affairs – anything he finds interesting or relevant. They are designed to entertain and to stimulate. Disagreement is always welcome.