Perashat Pinhas 5776

Perashat Pinhas 5776

This year, the United States is involved in a presidential election.  As the world’s leading democracy, America has always taken pride in the seamless and peaceful transition of power between the outgoing and incoming executive administrations.  In this week’s perasha, Pinhas, we read about the transition of power from Moshe Rabbenu to Yehoshua.  Though not chosen by the people, a new leader is appointed by G-d himself to replace Moshe and lead the people into the land of Cana’an.  G-d commands that this transition take place specifically in the public arena as follows:

And the Lord said to Moshe, take Yehoshua son of Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lay your hand upon him.  And set him before El’azar the priest and before the entire congregation and give him charge in their sight.  And you shall place some of your honor upon him, so that all the congregation of the Children of Israel may be obedient.  [Bamdibar 27:18-20]

Moshe carries out G-d’s command; albeit with a slight deviation. “And he [Moshe] took Yehoshua, and set him before El’azar the priest and before the entire congregation.  And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moshe.” [Ibid. 22-23]

The author of Gar’iney Torah asks:  Why did Moshe first present Yehoshua and only then carry out the semikha - the “laying of the hands” on Yehoshua - which symbolizes the peaceful transition of power - at the end of the process, rather than at the beginning, as G-d had commanded him?

The answer is, that Moshe was very astute and he understood the nature of the people.  He knew that in order for the people to accept the authority of Yehoshua as his successor, there is a specific process that must be followed so that the nation would feel enfranchised.  He understood that the people needed to feel that they were actually a part of the “selection” process and that the candidate to succeed him was not being foisted upon them.  Therefore, he first presented Yehoshua in front of the entire nation in order to gain their approval of G-d’s choice.

This begets the question, of how Moshe Rabbenu knew that this action would be acceptable by G-d?  After all, Moshe Rabbenu is not one to cavalierly slough off a direct command of the Almighty!  The answer offered by the author of Gar’iney Torah is that Moshe learned that one seeks the prior approval of the people from the precedent of Besalel who was designated by Hashem to build the Mishkan, the Tabernacle.  The Talmud [Berakhot 55a] relates that when Moshe was searching for someone to head up the Mishkan project, G-d asked him, “Is not Besalel ben Uri ben Hur qualified for the job?”  Moshe responded to Hashem that, “If You have chosen him, he certainly is acceptable to me!”  Hashem said, “Nevertheless, go and ask the people’s approval.”  According to the sages, Moshe Rabbenu did exactly that; he asked the people’s approval of Besalel and they answered, “If he is acceptable to Hashem and to you, he is acceptable to us.”

When it comes to choosing a leader of Israel, even though the ultimate selection may be that of The Super Delegate, par excellence, namely Hashem; nevertheless, the candidate must be, first and foremost a man, “in whom there is spirit of G-d,” and also must have the acclaim of the people.  Anyone short of that will ultimately fail as the leader of the, “Kingdom of Priests and the Holy nation.”