Moshe Rabbeinu had so many amazing qualities that it would be hard to enumerate them all. Yet, in the final stage of his life - a stage which begins in this week's sedra - three qualities that exemplify leadership stand out.
The first is humility. Until his dying day, Moshe remains humble and self-effacing. Greatness has not jaded the man, and he still places the nation before his own needs and desires. He wants, always and forever, that which is good for the people, and he is not ashamed to visit every Jew where he or she "lives" in order to bring them closer to the Almighty.
Second, he has an unflagging devotion to Hashem and a Higher Cause. Even his own life is of no consequence if G-d or destiny must be served. So we find that Moshe eagerly goes to war against Midian, though he knows that when this last mitzvah is completed, he must die. He might have delayed the war - as the people wanted - or taken his sweet time. But Moshe, as in everything else he did, went full-force, unhesitatingly, in the path of Hashem.
Yet, while humble and obedient, Moshe could also be extremely forceful. Our parsha begins: "These are the words Moshe spoke to all Israel." Kli Yakar wonders if Moshe indeed spoke to all the people - 600,000 males alone, 2-3 million souls in all. How could he do that? Did he have a mega public-address system? Did he go on the Internet or big-screen TV, or preach from the Goodyear blimp?
Kli Yakar answers that "Israel" refers not to the people, but to the leaders of Israel. Moshe forcefully tells the leaders that they must be the ones to carry the message of G-d to the nation, that they must confront the people with tact and yet with truth, caring for everyone, yet fearing no one.
Moshe understood that often, leaders feel they must lead alone, because the nation is either unwilling or unable to rise to the same high level of those in command. Moshe rejects this approach for Am Yisrael, and charges the leaders with the obligation to reach the people and raise them up, never belittling their greatness.
What a model of excellence for Jews who would be leaders: stay humble; serve the people; get out of office when your term is up; reach out to the masses to make them great. Fear no man, yet fear G-d. Glorify the nation and only then will you yourself be glorified.
The first is humility. Until his dying day, Moshe remains humble and self-effacing. Greatness has not jaded the man, and he still places the nation before his own needs and desires. He wants, always and forever, that which is good for the people, and he is not ashamed to visit every Jew where he or she "lives" in order to bring them closer to the Almighty.
Second, he has an unflagging devotion to Hashem and a Higher Cause. Even his own life is of no consequence if G-d or destiny must be served. So we find that Moshe eagerly goes to war against Midian, though he knows that when this last mitzvah is completed, he must die. He might have delayed the war - as the people wanted - or taken his sweet time. But Moshe, as in everything else he did, went full-force, unhesitatingly, in the path of Hashem.
Yet, while humble and obedient, Moshe could also be extremely forceful. Our parsha begins: "These are the words Moshe spoke to all Israel." Kli Yakar wonders if Moshe indeed spoke to all the people - 600,000 males alone, 2-3 million souls in all. How could he do that? Did he have a mega public-address system? Did he go on the Internet or big-screen TV, or preach from the Goodyear blimp?
Kli Yakar answers that "Israel" refers not to the people, but to the leaders of Israel. Moshe forcefully tells the leaders that they must be the ones to carry the message of G-d to the nation, that they must confront the people with tact and yet with truth, caring for everyone, yet fearing no one.
Moshe understood that often, leaders feel they must lead alone, because the nation is either unwilling or unable to rise to the same high level of those in command. Moshe rejects this approach for Am Yisrael, and charges the leaders with the obligation to reach the people and raise them up, never belittling their greatness.
What a model of excellence for Jews who would be leaders: stay humble; serve the people; get out of office when your term is up; reach out to the masses to make them great. Fear no man, yet fear G-d. Glorify the nation and only then will you yourself be glorified.