Rabbi Ephraim Sprecher

RABBI EPHRAIM

SPRECHER

Faculty, OU Israel Center

True

Leadership

Israel sent messengers to Sichon, the King of the Amorites to let Israel pass through his land. (Bamidbar 21) Rashi points out that the Torah says that Moshe sent messengers to Edom, but that Israel sent messengers to Sichon. Even though, in both cases, Moshe sent the messengers on behalf of all the Jewish People.

As Rashi notes, this teaches us that Moshe and the Jewish People are essentially equivalent. A true Jewish leader does not just represent the Jewish People, but he is one with them in essence. The leader’s affairs are not divided into private and public life. He is a public servant to the very core.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe points out that

Unique Property for Sale on Rechov Ramban next to the Windmill

בס“ד

Beautiful 130 sqm garden apartment in a quiet building • Huge living room • 4 bedrooms + 2.5 bathrooms • 2 balconies + 2 exits to the garden • Option to split into two rentals • 4,850,00 NIS Moshe Rebbeinu’s total identification with his People and his selfless devotion to them makes him the conduit through which G-d provides all the material and spiritual needs of the Jewish People.

Therefore, not only is Moshe one with the Jewish People, they are also one with him. As such, they can rise to his perspective on reality and share his divine consciousness and his holy life. even if they had not yet refined themselves enough to be worthy of these spiritual treasures on their own.