Parshat Devarim
by Rabbi Avi Billet
After describing the difficulty he had in judging the people by himself when the need for rule of law became apparent shortly after leaving Egypt, Moshe describes how he had made a suggestion to the people to bring forth their most honorable leaders to serve as captains and judges over smaller population groups.
Leaving out the role his father in law had in these developments (a topic of a much longer discussion), Moshe says, “You answered me, 'Yours is a good suggestion.' I selected of tribal leaders, wise and well known men, and I appointed them your leaders - captains of thousands, captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, captains of tens, and police for your tribes.” (1:14-15)
In two separate comments, Netziv (Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin) makes the bold claim that Moshe utilized an unnecessary word to make his point, and each unnecessary word requires an explanation.
First, Moshe said “You answered me.” (ותענו אותי) The word “me” (אותי) is unnecessary, as Moshe is the one talking and he is describing the response the people had to what he said! Netziv explains that the previous word, which has been translated to “you answered” (ותענו) can also be read to mean “you caused to suffer.”
In other words, the people pushing for reform were so brash and bold they were indicating their displeasure with Moshe’s leadership when he had barely had the time to get his feet wet in practical leadership after the people had completely removed the shackles of Egypt. Had the word only meant “you answered” then the word “me” would have been extra. But since it could also mean, “You caused to suffer” the word “me” is necessary because the people “caused me [Moshe] to suffer” in the way they treated him.
The second example of an extra word is when Moshe says, “I appointed them your leaders.” (ואתן אתם ראשים עליכם) The word “them” (אתם) is extra. In the verse, the Hebrew word for “them” is “otam.” After asking if it is plausible that Moshe “selected of tribal leaders, wise and well known men, and I appointed them your leaders” because if they were already leaders, how was he appointing them as leaders, Netziv explains that the word “Otam” can also be read as “Itam” (אתם) were one to merely change the vowelization. “Itam” means “with them,” and the verse would now mean “I selected of tribal leaders, wise and well known men, and I appointed your leaders with them!”
It is such a fascinating idea to consider that if an unnecessary word is only revoweled, it becomes more than necessary, but brings about a new teaching. We learn so much about the people, and we learn so much about Moshe.
If indeed the people made Moshe suffer over this choice, it shows a level of disgruntlement that we did not perceive at such an early stage. They wanted to have a say. They wanted to be involved. If I may borrow an old phrase (and create a new word), perhaps they were declaring “No leaderization without representation.”
And so, Moshe chose to accept input from representatives who were already leaders, saying “Help me find the right people to serve in this capacity. You want leaders? I’ll give you leaders. But you have to choose them! This way, you can’t complain anymore, as they are your leaders – the ones your representatives chose along with me.”
We are living in a time when people often feel that leaders are unnecessary. Maybe even some of the leaders don’t value their roles as leaders. But more often, people seem to feel that “I can do everything myself.”
I recently saw a video of an interview from 1975 in which Johnny Carson had then-former-Governor Ronald Reagan on and Reagan said, “If government would shut the doors and sneak away for three weeks, we’d never miss them.” Presumably because good people would be able to do good things without being subject to laws and regulations that are stifling to growth and business (I don’t think he was suggesting that police who deal with crime and law and order should go away). And maybe there is something to such a notion.
But there are also times when one wonders if the leaders we have are the leaders we are stuck with or if they are the ones we aptly deserve. Government is a sore subject for a lot of people these days, so let’s put our focus back in our community.
Those who feel they do not have a say have every right to have a say. Whether we are talking about a shul or a school or any Jewish institution with which we are involved, it behooves us to participate in a way that indicates our concern and care, but also in a way that is respectful.
Hopefully we merit to get the right kinds of leaders, but there is also the concern that, based on how we conduct ourselves, we get the leaders we deserve.
How many schools have an overhaul of administration every five years? How many shuls are looking for a new rabbi every three years? How many institutions find themselves bedecked with scandal on account of mishandling of money, or some other unfortunate episode?
Leaders must properly represent, and the people must have the strength to pick those who fit them best.
Hopefully, at the very least, we can thereby improve our community infrastructures and promote peace in all of our ranks.
No comments:
Post a Comment