Pinchas - Leadership by Example

You're listening to the weekly parha podcast recorded with Hashem's never ending assistance in mish Israel 5775 2015. This week's para is paras. There's a theme that I noticed in three different points in this week's para which I'd like to share with you. I'd like to show you and it's an idea that I heard from Shiva pair and um it's very powerful. I think that it's something that we can all use in our lives and be aware of and incorporate into our own thinking, our own way of being. At the very beginning of the para, we have the the story, the continuation of the story from last week's para with Pinas. Pinas had seen the travesty that was being committed by Zimry and he saw the destruction that was being caused on the Jewish people through the lensiousness that was caused by the daughters of Midian. And as a result of that, Pinas did his act. He killed Zimry and Kusby and he prevented the mafoa. He stopped in its tracks this plague that was affecting the Jewish people. Many thousands had died from. Now what was the root of it? Where did it start from? It started with Bum. As the sages tell us, Bum had given advice. Bulik had said, I want you to curse the Jewish people. Bum was unable to curse the Jewish people. As a result, however, Bum gave advice that if you want to get the Jewish people, the way to get them is through causing them to do things that are lentious, to cause behavior which is problematic between men and women. By doing that, if you can do that, the God of the Jewish people hates lentiousness, hates immoral behavior. And as a result, if you can get them to do that, so you can cause great damage to the Jewish people. And indeed, he gave them the advice. And the result was indeed that there was a great plague that occurred and many Jews fell in to the sin with the daughters of Midian. Now I think it's important to note as we look at Bum, we look at his character as described by our Kazal that Bum was somebody who he himself was immoral. He was somebody who had relations with his very animal that he rode. This is our Kazal say it explicitly. And so it's very interesting that the instruction that he gives to the king of Moab to Balok is to cause the Jewish people to sin in this very way he himself is like the perfect example of what he wants to do to to bring down the Jewish people. So the type of leadership if we look at Bum and we look at Bulock the type of leadership that we're looking at is leading by example. And I'd like to speak more about this and notice that it occurs more than once in the para. The second place that we notice this is really a surprise. It's a surprise idea. The verse says something which we wouldn't have thought of it this way. It's it's speaking about the children of Ruvane. It's uh enumerating who's going to receive the land of Israel, who's going to receive portions in the land of Israel. And it tells us The children of Elav who who are these people the Torah addresses who are we know these people they were the leaders they were those who brought this congregation of people who came to scorn to fight against Moses and Aaron in the congregation of Korak but alashm in their scorning in their coming against God. The Torah reminds us of the story that we read just a few weeks ago and it speaks about the fact that they were swallowed up in the earth. Now, what's interesting is it doesn't it speak it mentions Korak in the verses but it mentions Korak only secondarily. Dustin and Avir are referred to here primarily and in the Maporium as the Maporium speak about this. They seem to say that indeed Dustin and Aram may have been the instigators of the whole argument despite the fact points out that it says it seems like Korak was the one who started the whole story. But the implication here from this verse and also from verses later on in the Torah which refer exclusively to the indication the implication here is that and themselves were the main antagonists in the whole story with the destruction of Korak. And I think that it's important to look at the story and realize notice that Korak was the face on the rebellion. Korak was the famous one. He was the one who had perhaps he had the the lineage that looked good. He came from the tribe of Ley. He was a Levite. He sang in the temple. But Dustin and Aram, they may not have had the they not they may not have been the poster child of that movement against Moshe, but they were the ones behind it. They were the ones who were the example that was followed by many others. And the downfall of all of those people, the death of many thousands amongst the Jewish people was as a result of the example of Dustin and Aram of who they were, the evil that they represented, the the negative attitude that they had towards Moshe that they caused others to have as well. Not perhaps in being the frontline men, not perhaps being those in front of the whole story, the leader uh in an active way of the rebellion, but perhaps we could say that part of the reason why it's presented in this way is because they were those who through their example others followed after them, but it was more subtle. It wasn't as as overt. It wasn't as in-your-face that they were the leaders of the rebellion. And what's interesting here is that we see that the the verse refers fact of Koraku the children of Korak didn't actually die and brings down that this is a further indication of the fact that Korak himself wasn't the instigator but rather that Dustin and Aram were the instigators. Dustin and Aram they had no progyny that survived them. Korak, however, we know that there's parts of Tahill and parts of the Psalms that were written by the sons of Korak, the the the progeny of Korak indeed continued to contribute to the spirituality of the Jewish people. And that's an indication of the fact that there was a spiritual power of Korak. He wasn't completely evil. There was good intent within that which he did as opposed to Dustin and Aram. They were people who were kulum. They were completely they had this negative mindset and there was nothing good that would come out of them. Now this is something that's true on the side of evil. This is true on the side of negativity. But later on in the para we see this idea this theme in the opposite direction. Mosher Rabenu is aware that it's time to go. The Jewish people are going to go into the land of Israel. And he doesn't have the privilege because of Mimariva because of the whole story with striking the rock. he will not have the privilege to bring the Jewish people into the land of Israel. And he turns to God and he says, "God, please appoint over the Jewish people someone who has the proper attitude, who will be able to lead them properly, who will be able to give them all that they need in order to survive as a nation, in order to survive individually, that they should be able to accomplish all that's necessary, in order to be that spiritual force within the world." The verses read as follows. This is in chapter 27 15 and on Moses speaks to God and says [Music] God please choose somebody. You are the God who understands the spirits of every single of all flesh. Each and every person please appoint somebody to be in charge of this congregation for the Jewish people who will go out in front of them who will who will come in front of them will bring them in bring them out and the congregation of God shouldn't be like a like a she like a flock of sheep that don't have a shepherd. Now what is the special quality of someone who's going to be a leader of the Jewish people? So God says to Moses, take for yourself Joshua the son of he has this spirit within him. What is his spirit? So says it's a spirit of prophecy. But Rashi says Hashem is saying to Moses this is what you requested. He has the ability to understand each and every single individual. He's somebody who's a he's somebody who includes within himself all the different aspects of the Jewish people and therefore he understands each and every individual and he can direct each and every individual. Now in this context explains something amazing really interesting. He said that there are really two different types of leaders. There are two different possible ways of leading. One way of leading is that I speak to each and every person. They come to me for advice. They come and whatever their problems are, I address them. I look at each person who they are. I try to understand them. Try to give them advice which is mim to them which is tailored for that person. That's one type of leader. And that type of leader has a limited scope of whom he can affect. There's a different type of leader and my rashiva referred to his own rashiva which was Rabbar Cutler as being this type of individual that this person may not have so much interaction with the people who he's leading on an individual basis but the person is such a powerful individual. He's so inspired. He's so motivated. He's so refined. And he's somebody who has such an incredible spirit of spirituality inside of him that when you interact and you see this person all your questions are answered. It's almost like if you see a person like that you see a person who's on fire with spirituality with godliness. So all the questions just melt away. Rash when he said this idea he was reading from the sadus Adam who was quoting this verse that he has this spirit within him he has this inspiration a person who's a true leader of the Jewish people so you're leading over millions of people so how is it possible to affect every single individual but when the leadership is by example when someone has filled himself up with so much spirituality with so much commitment with so much life with so commitment to God to to to the way of the Tyra when someone is acting in that way. So the effect will be immediate on those around him. They all all those who are around that person will want to be like that person will want to be committed will want to have that spirituality. Now in the context of this idea a little bit expanded on on this idea of of commitment of burning of of having this fire of commitment of spirituality inside of a person. you know, he he mentioned that one of the issues today, and this is a speech that was recorded in 2008, but it's certainly true today in 2015. One of the issues today to educators throughout the world. I mean, he was speaking specifically about yeshivas, but it's true um really anywhere is that our children are facing with challenges that they've never faced before. We are facing challenges that we've never faced before. or used to be a Jew. You know, you go out into the street, he'd have all kinds of mortal danger perhaps. He'd have all kinds of challenges from the street, but he would be safe in his own home. He'd come home and he could act as a Jew. He could do the things that he needed to do. He didn't have the challenge that existed outside. He didn't have that challenge within his own home. But today, the challenge of the Jew, the challenge of the individual is, you know, it's penetrated into the homes, into our very homes. And and what is the solution? It's not a simple solution. It's not an easy answer. But the idea as Marsha Shiva brought it across is that it comes down to it's really who can be an who can really stand up who has that level of commitment. It's kind of like the challenge of today is one that separates between the men and the boys who have that fire within them. who has that ability to be committed to the spiritual principles to the spirituality to the good to to do what's right to use their choice to use their to use their free choice. It seems very much many people have lost that free choice. But of course there's always it's always possible to get back our free choice. And the question is how do we use that or how do we maintain that? And and contained in this verse is that it's possible to have that spiritual commitment. It's possible to have within oneself the the fire the fire of commitment to spirituality which can help a person turn the tide. to have that ability to stand up to whatever faces that person and it's each man for themselves. It's each person inside of himself knowing whether or not am I able to stand up and do what's right. And um I'm thinking about you know there's a safer there's a book about someone a great person of the previous century the beginning of the previous century Ryakov Herman it's called all for the boss and the ability that he had to stand up and to remain to remain steadfast in his commitment to Yiddishkai to Judaism to spirituality at a time when people were not committed when at a time when people were falling at that time the the the challenge was would people keep shabas Would people be able to keep the Sabbath or would they end up working because it was nephesh? They wouldn't be able to support their families. You know, that was the challenges of those times. But he was someone who was able to stand up and do what was right because he had that staunch commitment within himself. and you read that story and you can't help but be drawn along and and want to have that type of commitment and and want to have that type of beautiful level of spirituality that he had and and that's the type of leadership that Rabon Cutler represented as Shiva shared and it's the type of leadership that the that the Tyra is speaking about here is Yahushua Joshua would lead his nation would lead the Jewish people through that commitment that he had he somebody who was so staunch, he was so committed in his spirituality that whoever would see him would be drawn in, would be inspired by his example to do what was right. And that's something that each and every one of us has the opportunity you know we have a family we have children we have friends around us and to the degree that we have filled oursel up with goodness with commitment with with powerful spirituality that's how much it will affect those around us each one of us is truly a leader whether we like it or not it's true each one of us is a leader and we have the ability to affect those around us and we have a choice because bum harasha bum was also a leader Dustin and Aram, they were also leaders and their leadership was the the way that it manifested was in a similar way to what we're speaking about here. But La Havdil on the other side, they were people who represented degeneration. Bam was someone who had relations with his own mule. He was somebody who represented degeneration and he was able to cause a tremendous rift in the Jewish people as a result of that. He caused a great downfall for the Jewish people through his example. Dustin and Aram as well. They were people who were kul and their whole essence. They were on fire with an antagonism toward Mosheren, toward Moses and toward Aaron and toward God. And as a result of that, they caused a tremendous downfall to the Jewish people. But then we have the Yoshua, the Joshua. As we said, he's somebody who was so full of spirituality that he could impart that message to the entire Jewish people. He can inspire an entire nation in their service of God, in their spirituality. And so each one of us has that choice. Each one of us has a choice in front of us. Where do we choose to put our inspiration? You know, what are the things that we admit to? We confess that we admit that we had ran to do things that weren't so good, that were evil, that were not in our best interest spiritually. But our isah, our evil inclination gets us to run to do those things and to be excited about those things. And that's unfortunate and that's sad and we have to admit that we've done that. But we can also be aware that that's the type of commitment, that's the type of excitement that we can have around our spirituality. And when we have that kind of excitement, you know, our kids are most affected, those around us are most affected by the things that we are excited about. If we're excited about the news and that's the topic of conversation at our shabas tables or we're excited about this thing or that thing or whatever it might be but something that's not necessarily spiritual. So our children learn from that. But when we're excited about a devar to Torah that we heard, when we're excited about some spiritual accomplishment that we've done, we finish a ma, whatever it might be, when that's the thing that we're excited about, that's the thing that has an impact on our children, on those around us, and that's the thing that has an impact on ourselves and that's the thing that we want to continue doing when it's something that we are able to get ourselves into, to be excited about, to have fun with. So, I want to bless you and please bless me back. Hashem should help us that we should be able to indeed recognize the ability that's inside of each and every one of us to be this type of leader like a Yahushua to be this type of person who fills ourselves with spirituality with excitement. We should be enlivened with that spirit with that goodness and the effect will be felt in our generations in our children and in all of those around us. Thank you so much for listening. Have a wonderful Shabas. This podcast was made possible through the gracious donations of listeners like you. For more podcasts like this, please visit www.rigoldwag.com or search on iTunes Ari Goldwag. [Music]