Dvar Torah Parshat Pinchas 5774 2014

Moshe knows that he will not lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land. Hence he requests of Hashem to appoint a leader that will take his place and lead the people. Hashem answers his request and says: קַח־לְךָ אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן־נוּן, “…take to yourself Yehoshua the son of Nun…”. (Num. 27,18) Moshe was instructed to appoint Yehoshua to follow him in leading Bnei Israel.

There were numerous people who could have fulfilled this exalted position. Among them were the sons of Aharon and many of the leaders of the tribes. Yet he was instructed to pick Yehoshua. Why so?

Rashi quotes the Midrash (Sifri, Bamidbar, Pinchas, 140) that says: את שבדוק לך, “…one who has been proved by you…one whom you know well…”.
Yehoshua was picked because he was close to Moshe. A scholar could be very learned and know all the laws. Yet, this is not sufficient to deal with the needs of the people. A leader must know how to deal with people and how to interpret the law according to the situation at hand. That means, he must know how to apply the law to the circumstances and it is not enough to know the law theoretically.

Yehoshua was that kind of a person because he was constantly with Moshe and could detect how Moshe was going to react to all trying situations that confronted him. Yehoshua had the practical experience of applying the law. That is relevant today. A successful leader is one who can analyze a situation and understand exactly what law applies and how it is to be rendered.

Dvar Torah Parshat Korach 5773 2013

The Torah states: וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח, “Korach…took”. (Num. 16,1) The Torah does not say what Korach took. Rashi says: לקח את עצמו, “He took himself…”. Rabbi Simcha Bunim expounds on this Rashi and says that Korach, indeed, was a bright man. He did have leadership qualities. His problem was that he did not wait until it was his time. He tried to usurp the power before he was asked.

In life, this happens too often. People try to assume power without being appointed. They may have leadership ability but leadership is not something that one takes upon himself. That is the act of dictators. Leaders have to be appointed or selected by the people.

There are times when no one wants to assume the authority to take care of a task that has to be done. In such a case it is desirable to volunteer. Yet, even in these circumstances one should not merely assume, since no one else stepped forward to undertake task that he could automatically step in without being officially accepted. Even in such cases he should volunteer but not merely assume the position.

People who take upon themselves responsibilities are not always appreciated by others.

Dvar Torah Parshat Balak 5770 2010

When Balak sent messengers to Bila’am to come and cast a spell on the Israelites, Hashem appeared to Bila’am in his dream and had a conversation with him which, based on a Midrash, Rashi records. Hashem asked, “Who are these people? Bila’am replied, “They were sent by Balak that I should come and curse the Israelites.” Hashem told him not to go. Then Bila’am said he would curse them from his home. Again Hashem answered “Do not curse them at all.” Then Bila’am said, “I will bless them.” Again Hashem said, “They don’t need your blessings for they are already blessed.”

Then Rashi adds a statement from the Midrash which has become an oft quoted Rabbinic parable, “One says to the hornet: LO MEDUVSHACH VELO ME’UKTZACH, not from your honey nor from your sting.” (Num. 22,12)

What is the meaning of this quotation and what is its implication here? Simply it means I don’t want anything from you; not your good and not your bad.

The Jewish people throughout history have been physically assaulted and harassed by its enemies who tried to annihilate us. It did not work. We were able to withstand the assault. So they tried a different tactic, with kindness. They accepted us into their society and through assimilation we lost great numbers of Jews. This is what the quotation implies. We don’t want your sting and we don’t need your honey. Just let us go our own way.

This is what Hashem was saying to Bila’am. Do not go. Do not curse them and do not bless them. Anything coming from you is harmful to them. Let them live their own way.