Perashat Beha'alotekha

Perashat Beha'alotekha

We all have heard the phrase “Leaders Come, Leaders Go”. It insinuates that leaders are expendable and replaceable. We have seen throughout history, although, all leaders come and go and most leaders are expendables, however only a few are replaceable. 

In Perashat Beha’alotekha, Moshe Rabbenu, after facing a group of complainers about their dissatisfaction with the Manna demanding meat and vegetables, appears to be in despair to the point of wanting to resign from his assignment of leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. He expresses to G-d his inability to lead by himself and states: “Why have You done this to your servant…that you placed the burden of this entire people upon me? Did I conceive these people or did I gave birth to them, that you say to me: carry them in your bosom?...where shall I get meat to give this entire people…I alone cannot carry this entire nation for it is too heavy for me”

Hashem responds to Moshe by asking him to appoint 70 elders from the people who will help Moshe carry the burden of leadership. The Midrash records a conversation between G-d and Moshe. "How am I supposed to know who to choose?" asked Moshe, "How can I know who is fit to be a leader and who isn't?"  

G-d responded that the choice had already been made. The evil Egyptians had already chosen the leaders of the Jewish people. They chose certain Jews as slave drivers, over the Jewish slaves. They were chosen to be the tyrants that made sure that the Jews produced their quota. If the elders did not hit the slaves, the Egyptians hit the elders. 

These slave drivers responded with empathy and compassion. Rather than whip the Jewish slaves to produce, they took the beating themselves, instead.

G-d said to Moshe, "the elders who were willing to take a beating for their fellow Jews are the leaders of the people. Today they too will enjoy the prophecy of G-d."

A great lesson is learnt here. To be a good leader is to feel compassion and empathy for the flock.  To be a true leader, however, is to take the beating for the flock and to feel their pain. 

Indeed, all leaders come and go; many are expendable, only some were replaceable. However, Moshe and the 70 Elders could never be replaced.