Torah Portion

What Are The Traits
Of The Able Leader?

JOAN VASS USA
Fall 1997

Shabbat Pi nchas: Numbers 25:10-30:1;
Jeremiah 1:1-2:3.

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n the middle of this week's se- avoid becoming arrogant over
drah, Moshe is told that he is his brothers ..." (Deuteronomy
to ascend the mountain, see 17:20). It is certainly no coinci-
the land of Canaan and then dence that the epitome of Jew-
die. Moshe, in response, pleads, ish kingship, David, is described
"Let the Lord, God of the spirits by the exact same terms that
of all flesh, appoint a person (as Moshe used in our sedrah: "And
leader) over the community who all of Israel and Judah loved
will go out before them and will David because he went out and
come in before them and will came in before them" (Samuel
take them out and will bring 1:18:16).
them in; and the community of
Moshe also characterizes the
the Lord should not
relationship of the
be a sheep without a
leader to his people
shepherd" (Numbers
as a"shepherd to his
27:16-17).
sheep." The care and
Of course, God in-
concern of the shep-
dicates that Moshe's
herd for each of his
disciple Joshua will
flock and the depen-
be that leader. It is
dence of the sheep
instructive to note
upon the shepherd
how Moshe, the
for guidance is the
leader of the Jewish
model that Moshe
people for almost 40
uses. For the shep-
years, characterizes
herd, his responsi-
RABBI ELIEZER COHEN
the role of leader.
bility — and that is
SPECIAL TO
Moshe considers
what it is, a respon-
THE JEWISH NEWS
the function of the
sibility — is one of
leader of the people
protection and care.
as one who "will go out before In fact, Moshe also uses anoth-
them and come in before them er model for his role when he
and will take them out and will complains: "Did I conceive this
bring them in." The ideal leader whole nation? Did I give birth to
to Moshe is primarily a role mod- it that You say to me 'to carry it
el, an exemplar who influences in your bosom as a caregiver car-
the nation to do as he does and ries an infant ...?'" (Numbers
one who participates in the same 11:12).
activities as the nation. Such a
Moshe there sees his burden
perspective could be expected — as it is a burden — as that of
from Moshe, who is described in caregiver for the infant, again a
the Torah as "the humblest of all relationship dedicated to love
men" (Numbers 12:13). It is and protection. To Moshe, lead-
Moshe who declares, "Are you ership had more to do with re-
jealous for me? Oh, that all of sponsibility than authority, love
God's nation were prophets that and protection rather than pow-
God should place His spirit upon er and control.
them" (Numbers 11:29) when
Moshe is described by the
confronted with other men Torah as "shepherding the
prophesying in the camp. Moshe sheep" when God first appears
makes this declaration to his to him in the burning bush (Ex-
student Joshua, when Joshua odus 3:1). Likewise, David was
objects to their prophecy, to in- a shepherd before he became a
dicate to his student, the pre- king. The forefathers of the Jew-
sumed next leader, what the ish people were all shepherds.
proper attitude should be.
Certainly the words of Jacob in
Whereas the Torah states describing his duty as a shep-
that judges should be "capable herd for Laban's flocks could
men, God-fearing men, men of very easily parallel the sense of
truth that hate profit" (Exodus duty of all our great leaders:
18:21), the quality of humility is "Thus I was during the day con-
understood to be essential. In sumed by heat and frost at night
fact, the king is commanded to and I refused to sleep at night"
limit his horses, wives and rich- (Genesis 31:40). ❑
es and to write a special Torah
scroll for himself and to keep it
with him and to study it to learn
Publicity Deadlines
to become God-fearing, to keep
The normal deadline for local news and
the words of the Torah and "to
publicity items is noon Thursday, eight

Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of

Congregation Or Chadash.

days prior to issue date. The deadline
for out-of-town obituaries is 10 a.m.
Tuesday, three days prior to issue date.