Pinchas - Leadership, Leaders, & Behavior
Shavua Tov,
As the 250 milestone of our nation approaches, there is much to glean in retrospect of what has been accomplished in our country’s history. The strength of our democracy certainly relies on that ability to celebrate what deserves celebrating, and learning from what could have been better. When we consider the July 4th holiday and recognize that date as a time of declaring a new form of existence, of government and of leadership, it must have been exciting for sure, but also fraught with anxiety and uncertainty. I am also confident it was not too different for our ancestors during the events that transpired in this week’s Torah portion. In parashat Pinchas, this week, we learn about Joshua as the successor to Moses. It comes following significant bouts of Israelite complaining, challenges to leadership and a bit of zealotry with Pinchas. It was the namesake for this week’s portion, who last week took the law into his own hands. Rabbi Lisa Gruschcow teaches that parashat Pinchas, and the weeks preceding, narrate a series of leadership challenges.
“Rabbi Lisa Gruschcow points to the reality that our sages and scholars recognized the challenges of leadership. She uses the great teaching of the Kotzker Rebbe: The Kotzker Rebbe (Polish, 19th century) writes: When Moses saw how great Pinchas was, he was afraid that he would be chosen as the leader, but he was not pleased with the prospect of having such a zealot as the leader of the Jewish people. He therefore asked of God that the leader be a tolerant person, and not a zealous one.” (Torah Gems, v.3, Yavneh Publishing, 1998, p.144)”
And it is perhaps with these ideas in mind that Moses described Joshua: Moses spoke to God saying, “Let Adonai, Source of the breath of all flesh, appoint someone over the community who shall go out before them and come in before them, and who shall take them out and bring them in, so that Adonai’s community may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.” (Numbers 25:15-17). Joshua, in Moses’ eyes, was a leader because of his behavior. He demonstrated faith and trust in the process of our people’s story. Joshua, along with Caleb, demonstrated not only resolve in their scouting moment earlier in the Book of Numbers, but Moses’ description here provides a view of him as one among the people too. Pinchas, in contrast, set himself apart, and even above, the people when he took the law into his own hands. He held a position of leadership, he was grandson of Aaron the High Priest, yet his behavior fell short of being a true leader. The foreshadowing this week of the peaceful transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua is integral to our story as it unfolds, and bears lessons for us today.
As the July 4th holiday approaches, a time to celebrate the great transition towards freedom, let us recall the qualities in our people’s leaders…in Moses and in Joshua, and strive to bring them into our world through us. Let us strive to inspire our leaders to be continually living up to the examples of them too. May the leaders in our world today lead with behaviors befitting such positions.
Wishing you a meaningful and pleasant week, a fun and safe Independence Day - Shavua Tov,
Rabbi Evon
