When the time came for Moses, Israel?s faithful shepherd, to be gathered unto his people, he asked G-d to appoint a good leader for Israel - ??[A] man over the community, a man of spirit?: Someone who would be able to relate to the individual spirit of every single Jew, a leader who would be able to tolerate everyone the way they are. Just as no two people look exactly the same, so too, no too people have precisely the same views.? (see Rashi on Numbers 27:15-18) Indeed, the greatness of a leader lies in his ability to unite the nation despite differences in views, despite their being twelve tribes, despite their having different streams of thought and different political parties.
His greatness lies in being able to forge unity without crushing anyone?s viewpoint or personality. After all, each individual through his views and his uniqueness contributes to the national fabric. What one possesses the other does not, and vice versa. It is like a man?s limbs and organs. Each complements all the others.
In order to become a great man, one needs to have himself received inspiration from a great man. Indeed, Moses was the spiritual master of Joshua, who served him, never leaving his tent. For that reason, Moses rested both of his hands on him when he ordained him the new leader.
Today, the People and State of Israel need a leader who is a man of spirit, someone who can unite the people despite the differences between the various streams and political parties. ?Let G-d?s community not be like sheep that have no shepherd.? (Numbers 27:17) Let him be a leader who the people can believe in, a leader who will guide the nation on the difficult path winding upward towards complete redemption. Let him be a leader who has been invested with the splendor of the Torah of Moses. By such means, ?the entire Israelite community will obey him,? (27:20) and they will treat him with respect (Rashi, Ibid.).
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Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UveEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il.
His greatness lies in being able to forge unity without crushing anyone?s viewpoint or personality. After all, each individual through his views and his uniqueness contributes to the national fabric. What one possesses the other does not, and vice versa. It is like a man?s limbs and organs. Each complements all the others.
In order to become a great man, one needs to have himself received inspiration from a great man. Indeed, Moses was the spiritual master of Joshua, who served him, never leaving his tent. For that reason, Moses rested both of his hands on him when he ordained him the new leader.
Today, the People and State of Israel need a leader who is a man of spirit, someone who can unite the people despite the differences between the various streams and political parties. ?Let G-d?s community not be like sheep that have no shepherd.? (Numbers 27:17) Let him be a leader who the people can believe in, a leader who will guide the nation on the difficult path winding upward towards complete redemption. Let him be a leader who has been invested with the splendor of the Torah of Moses. By such means, ?the entire Israelite community will obey him,? (27:20) and they will treat him with respect (Rashi, Ibid.).
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Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UveEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il.