Our sages describe to us how and why Betzalel ben Uri was selected to be a leader:
"G-d said to Moses: 'Moses! Do you find Betzalel reputable?' Moses replied, 'Master of the Universe! If You find him reputable, shall I not find him all the more so?' G-d then said, 'Even so, go tell the people.' Moses then went and asked Israel, 'Do you find Betzalel reputable?' and they replied, 'If both you and G-d find him reputable, shall we not find him all the more so?'" (Berachot 55)
Based on this text, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook teaches us what traits a good leader must have. First and foremost, he must have a pure heart. After that, he must be a wise man who knows how to run a country. Popularity amongst the people comes only third.
How so? G-d asked Moses, "Do you find Betzelel reputable?" Moses was a great sage and only a sage can tell whether a person before him is a sage or not. Moses answered, "If You, G-d, find Betzalel reputable, shall I not find him all the more so?" By this Moses meant: "G-d, you discern whether or not a person has a pure heart such that he acts without any private interests, but only for the good of the people. I, Moses, declare that Betzalel is a wise sage and can serve as a leader."
Yet, G-d replied that it was not enough. Moses would have to get the people's consent. Indeed, Moses asked the people whether they considered Betzalel reputable and they replied that they did. If, however, a leader lacks a pure heart, and he is moved by personal, private interests, then even though he is wise and popular, he is liable to bring calamity upon his people (see Ein Aya on Berachot 55).
Today, we are examining the steps being taken by Mr. Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister, who brought upon us the "Disengagement Plan", which tears apart the country as it tears apart the heart. At this time, we ask, "Is Sharon wise?" and the answer is, "Yes." He is known as a great strategist. We then ask, "Is he popular?" In the elections, at least, he won a resounding victory. And lastly, we ask, "Does he have a pure heart?" Only G-d, who examines the soul, knows what is really going on in Sharon's heart.
Yet, as flesh-and-blood people, we sense that he does not have a pure heart, and that his leadership is influenced by private and family interests. We are, therefore, afraid that he is going to bring calamity on the State of Israel, and we call upon him to clear his name and the name of his family before he carries out a process that, even for him - according to his own pronouncements - is the hardest in his whole life.
According to the opinion of great sages, and many Jews in Israel, it was the worst decision of his life, and the worst and most dangerous in the life of this nation.
In this regard, our sages already said, "Regarding three, G-d cries every day... and one of them is the leader who behaves arrogantly towards the public." (Chagigah 5b) As the Maharal of Prague explains, a leader who behaves arrogantly towards the public is a leader who rules coercively, with an iron hand (Netivot Olam, "Netiv HaTorah" 4). And if G-d cries over a leader who uses strong-arm tactics and behaves arrogantly towards the public, how much more so must we cry, as well.
"G-d said to Moses: 'Moses! Do you find Betzalel reputable?' Moses replied, 'Master of the Universe! If You find him reputable, shall I not find him all the more so?' G-d then said, 'Even so, go tell the people.' Moses then went and asked Israel, 'Do you find Betzalel reputable?' and they replied, 'If both you and G-d find him reputable, shall we not find him all the more so?'" (Berachot 55)
Based on this text, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook teaches us what traits a good leader must have. First and foremost, he must have a pure heart. After that, he must be a wise man who knows how to run a country. Popularity amongst the people comes only third.
How so? G-d asked Moses, "Do you find Betzelel reputable?" Moses was a great sage and only a sage can tell whether a person before him is a sage or not. Moses answered, "If You, G-d, find Betzalel reputable, shall I not find him all the more so?" By this Moses meant: "G-d, you discern whether or not a person has a pure heart such that he acts without any private interests, but only for the good of the people. I, Moses, declare that Betzalel is a wise sage and can serve as a leader."
Yet, G-d replied that it was not enough. Moses would have to get the people's consent. Indeed, Moses asked the people whether they considered Betzalel reputable and they replied that they did. If, however, a leader lacks a pure heart, and he is moved by personal, private interests, then even though he is wise and popular, he is liable to bring calamity upon his people (see Ein Aya on Berachot 55).
Today, we are examining the steps being taken by Mr. Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister, who brought upon us the "Disengagement Plan", which tears apart the country as it tears apart the heart. At this time, we ask, "Is Sharon wise?" and the answer is, "Yes." He is known as a great strategist. We then ask, "Is he popular?" In the elections, at least, he won a resounding victory. And lastly, we ask, "Does he have a pure heart?" Only G-d, who examines the soul, knows what is really going on in Sharon's heart.
Yet, as flesh-and-blood people, we sense that he does not have a pure heart, and that his leadership is influenced by private and family interests. We are, therefore, afraid that he is going to bring calamity on the State of Israel, and we call upon him to clear his name and the name of his family before he carries out a process that, even for him - according to his own pronouncements - is the hardest in his whole life.
According to the opinion of great sages, and many Jews in Israel, it was the worst decision of his life, and the worst and most dangerous in the life of this nation.
In this regard, our sages already said, "Regarding three, G-d cries every day... and one of them is the leader who behaves arrogantly towards the public." (Chagigah 5b) As the Maharal of Prague explains, a leader who behaves arrogantly towards the public is a leader who rules coercively, with an iron hand (Netivot Olam, "Netiv HaTorah" 4). And if G-d cries over a leader who uses strong-arm tactics and behaves arrogantly towards the public, how much more so must we cry, as well.