Rabbinic Aristocracy or Nepotism Rabbi | Rabbi Shai Finkelstein June 10th 2025

by their families. Okay, we are studying a new a new subject today. Um, as you can imagine, uh, shout is over. So, no discussions about root today. But we are going to talk about I call it aristocratia raanit or nepotism. So, nepotism, I guess you all know what it is. um not sure if you experienced one but uh we all know what is nepotism and then there is aristocrat which means aristocrat is aristocracy okay so basically trying to deal with the issue of is religious positions should be um like a yusha like an inheritance to the children or not if yes why when how and if not why obviously why So um let's start with the cif the cif which is a midrashim so composed around 2nd century probably around that time in so we have an interesting discussion here says mosha was very sad was very sad that none of his children took over now As you understand that's not in the narrative, right? In the narrative, it seems to be so smooth, right? Moshe takes Yeshua. He says, "Okay, who is going to lead?" Hashem says to Yeshua. Moshe says, "Wonderful. This is great. Let me uh put my hands on him and I will empower him and everyone will be great." We have no indication that Moshe was concerned that his children uh didn't take over. But Rabinatan says he was very much concerned. He was he was sad. says to Moshe, "Why? Why? You said because none of your kids took over which means Aaron's children took over meaning and because Aaron's children are like your children. So it looks like what? Your children also received something. That's wonderful. But that's not my children. Okay. Moses children are positionless, right? They have nothing. So what kind of an is that? And then he says, and also I'm going to give you another compensation. We know after you die every time the leader will need to do something he will need to go to what to ask the and therefore it basically it seems like you continue to what to lead that still does not address the issue of what's about what about my children. Okay. And then So there's a parable to a king who has a son. He was not worthy to be the second king, the next king. So what did he do? The king, he took the kingdom from his own son and he gave it to the son of his beloved friend. So the king says to this son of his beloved friend, even though I gave you greatness, you go and talk to my son, that's what Hashem says to Yeshua, even though I gave you greatness, you become the second leader. Go ahead and stand on um the entrance to stand. Okay, first and foremost the question that we need to ask is why did Moshe think that his children will be chosen based on what? Now, it's interesting that the Torah does not indicate anything about it. It's the cif and as I said to you before, it's a midrashim which was composed around the second century. So, we might find something historically, right? Something historical there that caused the midrash to ask the question a b you can say I don't need history. It makes sense. Any leader would like his children to take over to follow. And third, this midrash basically says that Mosha's children were not worthy. Why? Why is that? Why they were not worthy? So that's the three questions that we have. Then we have a fourth question which is how exactly can you comfort someone by saying you know your children are not worthy but the children of your brother oh they are very worthy and therefore they will be the leaders and you should you should feel good about it because they are considered like your children and even though Yahushua who is not from your tribe and is not from your family he's going to be the leader at the end who is the real leader Azar Elazar the son of Aaron we are nephew. So now everything is wonderful. Obviously we understand that it's not wonderful and we need to understand this uh this but we will see it a little later. So take a look at another one. So there we will see a little bit of a different perspective. So you should prepare yourself to study Torah because it's not comes as any an inheritance which means if your father is a scholar does not mean necessarily that what that you will be a scholar because if the Torah was an inheritance to you because then it will become what? an elite group which means if I am a scholar I will give it to my children my children to their children and their children and I will not share it with anyone else and I'm basically I will go against Torah because Torah is about what to teach to spread to share and not only to hold it for yourself okay now the says because we found the same thing with Moshe what is he thought without any questions that his children are going to want to take over. here according to this paragraph according to this source Moshe thought that his children will continue on and Hashem says to him no Yeshua will take over so we have not we're not talking here about Aaron we're not talking about Aon's children and why is it that Mosha's children will not be able to take over in order to prove a point which is the what? Why didn't you think of it? But but why the is the Okay, so the cone I can answer. You cannot have more than one tribe dealing with kesh. You need to have someone dedicated that I can understand. Maybe that's why Mosha Oh yeah. Yeah. It might be that Moshe thought the same thing. We have an elite group of kahuna and it's it's our it's really only in his family. But what this what this source says is something very different than the first one. The first one talked about that they were not worthy and we don't know exactly why. Here it's not about they could be the best. They could be as worthy as Mosher Rabenu but Hashem had to what to make a point. Even though rea mo did not look for what that his children will take over his Torah teaching he was interested in them to take over what leadership so that's a big different but I guess leadership here is leadership with Torah so in order to make a point Hashem said your basically Mosha's children paid a price that has nothing to do with them which is not fair meaning if we say the first source says from whatever reason it's not not fair. It's just they were not worthy. And don't think that if you are not worthy, you can take over your father's position just because you are the child. Okay, I can hear it even though I need to know why they were not worthy. The second source says they might be worthy but we need to cut it. By the way, you should remember it because now we are doing a lot of let's call it but we will get to okay we will get to and you will see that rabbis whatever they wanted their children to take over and these sources will have tremendous ramification. Yes. Would be his children be like a kingship was like a king also and was like a general he took he led them into what they needed then they weren't ready for a king. So Moshe royalty, right? They they were not. So that's true. But Moshe was not only a king. Moshe was a leader. Moshe was a king. Moshe was a Torah recipient and transmitter and he was a Cohen gad for eight days. So he he basically did it all to some extent. Um and when he thought that his children will take over, my assumption is that they will take over over the anaga, over the leadership, not necessarily being a king, but everything that entails in terms of leadership, teaching, Torah, judging, uh leading and things like that. Now, I would just say one more thing. I don't know what he had in mind in terms of his children taking over. He had two. So we all know that from one to two the law of ED it doesn't work when you have two too much especially not from the same family. Okay. So um with motion aron it did work and that's the only set of brothers that were able to cooperate. Okay. Yes Susie. Um I wanted to say that it leading this precedent for um what happens to the next generation because motion was chosen by Hashem. So they had this was a complicated thing to figure out what they really were supposed to do. Okay. So so you are asking why did Moshe think that his children should take over when he was chosen by God? Wait for God to choose to choose the right one. Like why? So it seems to be and especially when it comes to the second century that there was such an expectation and we will talk about that expectation. Okay. Third source again just a different right. So the says what that you should prepare yourself and set yourself up for what? To be able to study Torah. How do you do that? Take a look. Moshe looked at his children and he saw there is no Torah in them. That's strong strong expression. Where does he get it from? Where does he get it from? Oh, he wants to explain. Don't forget. Where did he get that thing? No idea. He just want to illustrate to explain it. Yes. They were meeting outside. Okay. Very good. Can you repeat? The question was not question. It's a statement which is a very true statement. What do you want from them? They came after Moshe had them and then left them with his wife Tipah. Then when Nito came along, they came with him. And we know that Moshe separated himself from Tipa and my assumption is that he also separated himself somewhat from his children which is the you know the issue of someone who is so public and his dysfunctional family. So the thing is which is very interesting is that according to some opinions it all came after Matan Torah. So if he did his children were not even then there when Hashem gave Moshe the Torah to give the Jewish people. There are opinions that says that they came before but before if if they came after Zamesh like they were not with all am together on Harai. if they came before so they still were there but how much time really Moshe had to for them and maybe they thought that you know because my father is Mosha Rabenu so I will be you know second in command and they didn't put any efforts or whatever it is but in Torah and then he Moshe realized that they are not worthy and that was the impetus for what for Moshe to do Hashem You should what? Should choose a leader after I die. I need someone to lead these people. So says to please let me know. This is very interesting by the way. Who was the one to request the leader? Moshe. This is the only time in the Torah it says Moshe. Now let's leave that aside for a second. Let's say Moshe would not say that. Who do you think will be the leader? Who? Aon is dead. Isan. So you say Elazar, right? Okay. What else? Yeshua. Yoshua. Maybe Yeshua. Now why is that not clear to Moshe that Yeshua should be the leader? Isn't that strange? Like Hashem need to tell him take Yeshua. So Bishma you say Moshe thought that his children should take over and Hashem needs to intervene and to say not your children but rather Yeshua I can understand. But if Moshe himself understands that what that his children are not worthy because don't you look at the guy who sits next to you all day every day since he was a Mish you appointed him to be the Kal against he joined you going on he is the one who always attached himself to you don't you think he is the one so you can say sometimes because you are so close to someone you know you don't recognize him but Moshe did recognize He sent him as one of the meagim. So like it's like an obvious choice here. Why do you think Moshe didn't think that Yeshua should be the leader? Think you're always biased against bias with people who are close to everyone should take their bias out of the picture. Okay. So maybe Moshe said look I'm close to him. Maybe I don't see his deficiencies and that's why you know what I'm not asking for him. Okay. If Hashem will choose him, I will not be surprised. Okay, very good. One option. Second option, he was was it from a different shepher? Maybe Moshe thought that it's not his to take meaning everything belongs to the leies kuna maloot everything. So we shouldn't transfer it to someone else. Okay. Second, third motion. didn't understand that the new leader needs to be uh more militarily um okay so Susie suggests that perhaps Moshe was not able to recognize the transition that the Jewish people went through and are going to enter the land of Israel not so many miracles anymore but you need to do something and Yeshua was someone who wants to do that and Moshe couldn't see it okay fourth Moshe knew that he was the person to be big they Hashem to pick and she come from him. Okay. In order to create authenticity and authority for me to choose. I might be biased. I might be blind. Whatever. Let God do that. Very good. And then I'll give you the fifth one. Unless anyone wants to contribute. No. Said he was just And the fifth one is Yeah. He wasn't ready to step down. Maybe Moshe thought that Yoshua is not ready to step in yet. No, Moshe wasn't ready to step down. Oh, Moshe was not ready to step down, but he's the one to ask for the leader. So, he understand that he's going to die. I thought you would say that Moshe thought that Yeshua is not ready. Okay. Yeah. Sure. Is there any chance that he did not want to hurt his brother Aron by he's dead? No, but but that Elazar and if he would if Moshe would say that it should be left, would that be hurtful to his nephew? I'm not sure because really a lazar could not function in both in both uh because a king cannot be a coin. Not only that because a king needs to come from it's also because a king needs to kill I mean in a war and then you cannot write the same hands that kill killed you cannot write bless the people. So that's always why kings that's why also we had issues with the yes maybe he thought should take over maybe he thought what showing how lend the paper against the media okay maybe okay um just like you said in the news story saying about he didn't want to do it over his sons to what wanted to okay he didn't want to be known is the father who basically skipped his children and gave it to someone else who says you know what God you do it right everything you said is correct I think or at least part of the speculations I would like to suggest to you one more didn't think that Yeshua is the one at all because Yeshua proved again and again that he was wrong no that Yeshua was Yoshua had two major mistakes. Two major mistakes in haga in leadership. one after the eagle he comes down with Moshe and the first thing he says to Moshe there is a sounds and voices of what of a war a battlefield and Mosha says to him which means you don't know how to distinguish between different sounds different voices you don't know how to listen to the people you think that it's a war. Why? Because I put you once as a chief of staff. So you you think that every time there is noise, it's a noise of war. This is not the noise of war. This is a noise of people who are totally lost it and they are worshiping idol. And not only that, they are dancing with him. So you have misjudged what you hear. That's the first time. The second time is I will say even two and a half times. The halfime is after the meagim. after the who was the first one to react not joined him after from different reasons but and then there is a third example that Yeshua didn't get it in when Moshe says to Hashem I have enough I can't carry these people by myself says to him okay get 70 people whatever there are 72 are left like left over elder then They prophesize in the camp and Yeshua according to comes along to Moshe says which means oh put them in prison or kill them. And then Mosha says to Yeshua what? Which means what are you jealous? Like in my opinion, I would wish everyone to be a prophet here. I don't mind. Exactly the opposite. What a leader wants. A leader wants that his students will be better than him. That what a teacher wants. Yes. If I remember correctly that towards the end doesn't actually appoint a successor to him either. Sure. That's also maybe indicative of something in his personality. It might be. And that goes to Ysef, but not now. The thing is is that maybe Moshe looked at Yoshua and says, "Yeah, I thought he's a leader." He's a great second in command. He's a great assistant, but not every assistant can become the senior leader. There is a reason why people are assistants or second in command. Some of it is because they don't want to take their huge responsibility. Sometimes that just because they can't do it. There is a huge transformation. You know there is a a mistake that almost in every school they like to do. When you have an incredible teacher, what do they make him? An administrator. And then and why? Because that can give him more money. The problem is a good teacher does not mean he's going to be a good administrator. You take him away from what he's good at and you put him in a in a place that he's going to fail. Okay. So this is my consultancy now to Jewish day schools. Okay. The what? Murphy's law. uh that is princip yeah but this this is that but whatever I understand where it's coming from but I think it's a mistake that was repeated again and again and again the idea is that Moshe looks at you and says yeah he's a great guy but he doesn't listen to the people does not understand how to what how to analyze a situation he's not the the right one says to him and look at the specification Moshe gives specification to Godashim Which means he needs to what? To lead. If he's not going to lead, they're going to lose. Give me an example that exactly that exactly what happened. Give you a hint. Sephoshua per I after this incredible victory of the over Yeshua decided what ah the eye it's just like a few people I'm not going to send the entire nation I don't even need to go either just send some of the soldiers and what's happened well the eye show them that it's not going to work and Hashem says to Yeshua I told you you need to what you you need to lead them. If you're going to stay on your couch and tell them and not that's not going to work. So Yeshua had this little bit of a def deficiency a flaw whatever you will call it that he didn't get it to some extent a part of it I don't blame him to be under Mosha's overwhelming leadership is you know sometimes you doubt yourself you know who am I to make a decisions I I will refer it always to to Mosher Rabin so the idea is and this is a very interesting source now you see three sources three different reasons. The first one basically says what? He said they're not worthy. The second one is they are worthy but I need to show a point prove a point. The third one is Moshe realized I'm not worthy and he went to Hashem and Hashem told him okay no takehu okay little later says the following. So here this says Moshe was sure that his children are taking over. So he just told Hashem, you know, we need to find a leader and I have great suggestions, my children. So Hashem says to Moshe, "It's not like what you think. Your children are not going to take over. This is amazing. Fourth source says like that Moshe thought his children are taking over. Hashem says to him, "No, they are not." Why? Not because they are not worthy, not because they don't know Torah, not because they know there is someone better than him than them. It's because of something else. It's called maim efforts. Yahushua served you, respected you, came to debate Midrash early in the morning, left at night, prepared the chairs, made sure that everything is clean. He is going to take over. Why? Not necessarily because he was smarter than Mosha's children. Not because he was more talented, not because they were not worthy. And he was it only because of what? Efforts. Efforts. Now it's obviously come to teach you that that um that by the way it's called the is what is what is not to safeguard. If you safeguard a fig at the end of the day, you need to wait for that fig to what to um ripe ripen and then to eat it. You can't eat it while it's ber. You can but it's not going to be good. So Yeshua invested so much he needs to get rewards rewarded for what? For what he put in. So obviously the educational lesson from this midrash is what it's not so much about how worthy you are but it's about what the efforts you put and the effort shows your dedication your commitment your everything but now I would like to ask you a question let's say Mosha's children were more capable and more talented so it's great that Yoshua is a is a wonderful hardworking guy but isn't that better for Israel to have someone who is more talented Anyway, so Hashem is the one. I agree. But let's leave Hashem out of the picture. Just just for the second. Yeah. For leadership, right? That's exactly my question. Like I understand that the opposite steadf steadfastness is more important. You mean today? You said no. Same here. Oh, very good. So basically the lesson of the midrash is yes it might be that the other guy can be more capable but steadfastness whatever it's called to be strong to be committed to be dedicated day after day after day after day will at the end will be will prove to be better than someone who is brilliant and get everything like that. It's interesting maybe because in my op in my opinion I think it depends it depends and uh but here the lesson is very clear obviously and that's okay as you can see there are different sources with different ideas but here in which is a more of a late a late um a late midash basically talks about you know it's not about the validictorian will not go to the one who got the best grades but rather the one who invested more time and commitment into the learning. How do you think that will go in a university or a high school? Yeah, that you get another prize of the most dedicated student but you are not a validictorian right so it is interesting BT it is interesting how to now if it comes to Torah not leadership Torah it's true the one who is more committed at the end will probably will be even smarter than the other guy who is brilliant and finish everything in 2 minutes and uh understand it but he's not does not have the commitment But in leadership, I'm not sure. I don't know. But that's is that's that's the opinion. I'm sure that in the research uh of leadership, I'm sure you can find something like that. But I will dare to say that I will be surprised if most business schools will teach their students to be hard only like that. hardworking employee should be promoted over someone who does the same job in half of the time and uh so I don't know but that's the idea yes mi do we know what his sons were actually like do what is son his sons were actually like no nothing we know something about his grandson which is not that flattering but uh But we do not know anything about his children. And by the way, I will tell you it is so sad. We know about Miriam's son who he went with Moshe and then he was killed. We know a lot about Aaron's children. We don't know anything about Moshe's children. Besides their names and the fact that he was almost killed because he didn't give them a brea and then they comes along with the father-in-law like with the grandfather and that's it. Now it might be related. Might be related. I said his grandchild. Yeah. Well, it's not flattering. So, um I would suggest something, but um you get to the Now it's like a competition, but uh do you get the other from if you do? If you don't, you can get it. But I'm talking about um Miriam and Aharon's conversation on Moshe about the the woman and at least according to one parot the accusation was that Moshe was embarrassed by her that Moshe was embarrassed by because she was not from Amis. That's what one of the methosim says and it might be that he was embarrassed by his children and therefore he in a way detached himself from them and uh it's very sad by the way it's very sad he was the father of Israel but not so much about his children details missing in the Torah might be indicative that Hashem kind of agreed with that I agree I agree but look how much there is in the especially in the in the Tanak source to fill up the gaps because I think everyone asked the question that no one asked what about Mush's family you know we all like to talk about families right it's about bringing building a family and family and family and family and then goes into nation but nation is based on what and then and then there is one family that is like missing this is like Mosha's family we don't know if They got married clum I mean they did because we know about the grandchild but we don't know we don't know anything. Yes, the idea came to my mind because Mary was punished that she said lashar about motion and it was so it was severe that maybe it was anything to say about his family didn't want didn't want to be discussed either because of but that's negative right it's a way that that there and I'm not sure that she I mean Kazal says that she she was punished with because of lash Um, but but the problem is it's a bit problematic. I'll ask you a question. I'm not going to answer it. Was Moshe there when they talked about him or not? I would say this. There are opinions. There are differences of opinions in terms of if Moshe was there or not. Leave alone that he wrote it after. But at that moment, was he there or not? It's interesting to know because if he was there it's rebuke they're talking to him. So why did she get sarat? So she got because of something else. So it's not lash. So has an opinion that was like we know and this is the why is next after because she spoke and they spoke. But that's not the only opinion in yes. That's the most important thing. One of the things I think you learn from this is that when people like to rely on, in other words, my we my grandfather was a rabbi in wherever. I mean, and you're talking this isn't anything, but he's very proud of the fact that I think we've learned something from this that we learn you can't rely on your anesthesia. you know let's say they say you know what I can figure out exactly that I'm wrong I'm related to what you're relating right so I will tell you you are correct but what you said related a little bit more to sephit in sephit that principle of the fact the fact that you are the first born does not mean that you will get anything exactly the opposite you're probably going to lose it that's sephit in sepho here it doesn't say that the that the children claim that they need to be the leader because they are Mosha's children. It's like opposite. Moshe says, "I created the legacy. Let the children take over." And Hashem says to him, "No." So there there there is that that the difference. So going back to Mosher Rabenu, we are in a somewhat of a like little bit of a like what's going on with his family. Okay, one more. So, Hashem says to Moshe, "Hashem, the God of all spirits, you need to want to appoint a leader." Meaning anyone who ask for public needs, he comes with very in a very assertive way, even aggressive way, which comes with demand, with requests. So that's interesting. Moshe is asking for a leader after the daughters of came along to ask for an inheritance. So the midrash is asking a question why now like why didn't Moshe when he heard that he will not bring the Jewish people to the land of Israel that was the time to what? to ask okay so if I'm not who is right so the the midrash asked why it came immediately after so he says when he saw that the totals of inherited the inheritance of their father Moshe said, "Okay, if now I see that what that the daughters of received inheritance from their father, so my children should inherit what I have, which means what? My my honor, my glory, my my position." Well, she didn't know that. Yeah. To ask. Am I right? No. Yeah. But after after he received the answer, the fact that he didn't was it clear to him that should inherit. Uhhuh. Okay. So, which by the way, I know what the Torah says that Hashem, Moshe says to them, I need to check, but there was something else there because you don't need to ask Hashem for such a deen. This is one of the most denim team. You want to tell me that Moshe didn't know that if there are no boys and there's no one else, the daughters shouldn't take it. So who who's going to take this inheritance? The king, the cohen, it's injustice. What are those girls will do? It's pretty simple. There is nothing is difficult. I missed one. Okay, you can get another chance, right? I missed. Okay, you can do it on another Tuesday. It doesn't work like that. But the is not that complicated. So there was something else in it. But after he heard God saying, "Okay, they will inherit it." He says, "You know what? It's time for me to demand that they will inherit my my position, which means your children set sat idly, didn't do a thing, they didn't learn Torah. This midrash is different than the one we saw before. The one we saw before was that Moshe realized that his children have no Torah. Here he does not realize it. Hashem says to him, "Your children What does that mean? Does it say that they didn't learn? They didn't take initiative. That's the that we say. What does it mean to be engaged? To be immersed. That that's what they do. They took it lightly. Ah, today I'll see it. Tomorrow I might not. I'll I'll learn Torah, but I'm not going to be engaged with Torah. I'm not going to deal like a business with Torah. But Yeshua didn't do that and therefore he deserve it and not them. Tough. How much did Mos give to his children? I don't know. But uh yeah but yes the examples that are given here for what is not doesn't fit. Yeah. You would think that the example will be but Yeshua studied 15 hours a day and then after he took a little nap he had another 3 hours of learning. Okay means that you find Torah in every shape, way and form and you create environments of Torah as well. That's the point of the midrash. Meaning it's not only to study, it's to prepare the entire environment they and to do everything. Nothing is beneath you when it comes to what? To allow people to study Torah. That's the idea of the midash to your Yeah. So he and this is this what I wanted to say which means sometimes when you are hanging out with the rabbi and you see how he makes a it's much more important than what then learn it in the and why because the rabbi takes the information he has the the knowledge he has but he also adds to it what the question that he knows how to ask how he approached the problem how he approached the person you learn a lot from it. So who else was a dedicated student to his rabbi/master Alisha Alisha Alisha and Eliu when Elahu disappeared and Alisha was the only one he was recognized by what? I'm he was the one to what? To pour water on Ela's hands. That that's how he was known. Not that he split the river and he uh brought the dead and he did everything. No, he pulled water on Ela's hands, which means he was the extension of it. Okay. So now if I would stop here for a second I'm not we have few more minutes even though I I know not to pass 110 because of Mina um if I would stop here and ask you okay so even though we we don't know anything about but just based on the sources what do you think about rabbis judges whatever it is any position but mostly more of a religious position Should it be passed on to the children or not? Okay. So, according to some sources, the problem was they were not worthy. But if they were worthy, they should. Very good. That's one one venue. Second venue. I don't care if they are worthy or not. I need to cut the chain. I need to show the Torah is not your right. Everyone needs to work hard for it. It does not come as an inheritance. So, I don't care. You can be the most capable guy ever, but it's the wrong message. And therefore, sorry, try somewhere else. Third option Oh, what? No, I'm not talking only about Islam. I'm not talking about, you know, prime minister give it to his son to isan. I'm talking about in general, just in general. What is missing here in this question? Don't forget this is going to be our sources for the halaka as well. we will see some gumarot but don't forget that at the end of the day here in this case there was god's intervention which is very different that's a b most of the positions that we have today are the positions are basically are given a after a vote no one gets something for life like it used to I mean maybe there are some but mostly not and the question is when a rabbi is being hired when a judge is being hired when a chief rabbi is being whatever it is do we understand that what that it's a term limit he's I mean his son can run but he's just one off so those are the questions that we're going to deal with later on we'll need to see some but from the sources we see that it seems to be there is a split according to some there's nothing wrong with the children to take over because I know we are very modern and very uh you know with modern values it's not fair and it's like dictatorship but don't forget that if you think about the people they already know the father the children know the job quote unquote they know the people and they are trained they saw how their father did or didn't do whatever it is in a way they are very equipped now what is on the other side maybe they are too uh too used to it there is entitlement and then at the end of the day they will be corrupt because it's too much power for too long. So all those questions that we think that only exist uh today existed back then too. So that's for today will continue next uh week. Please somehow don't let go.