“Moses spoke to God, saying, ‘Let God... appoint a man over the community.... God’s community should not be like sheep without a shepherd.’
God told Moses, ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man of spirit, and lay your hand on him.’
Moses did as God ordered him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Elazar the priest and before the entire community. He then laid his hands on him and commissioned him.” (Num. 27:15-22)
Joshua’s appointment to replace Moses was clearly a critical point in the spiritual and political development of the Jewish people. Every aspect of this sensitive transition was significant.
We read that God commanded Moses to “lay your hand” on Joshua. The Torah testifies that Moses did as he was commanded. In fact, Moses placed both of his hands on his disciple. What is the significance of this change?
Material and Spiritual Leadership
The Jewish people require two types of leadership. Like any other nation, they need leaders in worldly matters: economic, societal, political, and military. In addition, as bearers of God’s Torah, they require spiritual guidance. Capable leadership will lead to success in both spheres, revealing the greatness of Israel. All will recognize the wisdom and beauty of their ways, as befits a special people who enlighten the world with spiritual knowledge and holiness.
In his plea before God, Moses referred to the people both as “the community” and as “God’s community.” Moses requested that they have a leader in all spheres, both material — as any community — as well as spiritual — as “God’s community.”
One or Two Leaders?
The question is: can both of these areas be combined under the guidance of a single leader? Or perhaps it is necessary to create two positions: one leader to govern the nation’s material needs, and a second for spiritual direction.
Clearly, if there is no conflict between the two functions, it is preferable to limit the number of leaders. King Solomon described the instability generated by multiple authorities: “Because of the sin of a land, its princes are many; but with a man of understanding and expertise, its stability will long continue” (Proverbs 28:2).
The answer — whether spiritual and worldly leadership should be combined into one position — depends upon the state of the nation and the world. When God’s unity is manifest, and the entire world enjoys God’s beneficence, then anything contributing to the world’s advance is directly connected to God’s will. With material progress, the spirit gains understanding and insight. As the Talmud teaches, “All of your builders will be taught of God” (Berachot 64a, based on Isaiah 54:13). Those who literally build up the world, in all of its aspects, will be granted enlightenment and wisdom. All occupied in advancing the world will be carrying out the will of their Creator. In their actions, they cleave to God’s holiness, just like the holiness associated with performing mitzvot and studying Torah, which are directly and truly the will of God.
In such an elevated reality, there is no conflict between the spiritual and material spheres. Therefore, it is logical that the supervision of both realms be combined under a single leader. The prophetic visions foresaw that this will be the state of the world under the leadership of the messianic king.
This was also the level of Moses, who was responsible for both spiritual and physical needs in the wilderness. He was an “eved ne'eman", a faithful servant who looked after the people’s material needs. Moses was also crowned with “kelil tiferet", pure splendor, a metaphor for his exalted spiritual position. Moses never felt a contradiction between these two functions. His bodily powers were not weakened by experiencing prophecy, due to his clear recognition of the unity in God’s Divine will.
But when the intellect is unable to attain such an elevated state — when we are able to draw spiritual sustenance only when we are not encumbered with material occupations — then it is necessary to limit time and effort spent in worldly matters in order to grow spiritually.
In summary: when the Jewish people merit the revelation of God’s unity in all realms, then they should have one leader, providing enlightenment in spiritual matters, and counsel in material ones. The leader will not be distanced from holiness by his occupation in mundane matters. On the contrary, he will gain grace and honor. When, however, the Jewish people fall in their spiritual level, a conflict develops between the physical and the spiritual realms. Then it is necessary to appoint two distinct leaders. In those times, the study of holy topics distances one from worldly matters. And occupation in worldly matters dampens the desire to warm the soul with the Torah’s holy light.
Two Hands
Now we can understand why God commanded Moses to place one hand on Joshua. The hand is a metaphor for control and governance. Two hands represent control over two realms, the spiritual and the physical. Were God to command Moses to place both hands on Joshua, that would indicate that — for all times — both spiritual and practical leadership would be Divinely issued. In dark times, when the material realm is distant from the spiritual, we can hardly ascribe to the material leader the same Divine right to rule that Moses passed on to his disciple.
Why then did Moses place both hands on Joshua?
Moses understood from God’s command that only in the spiritual realm would there always be a Divinely-appointed leader. Nonetheless, Moses wanted to prepare the stage for a future world, an era in which both realms will united under one leader. Therefore, he made Joshua stand before both the high priest (representing the spiritual) and the common people (the physical). Moses then placed both hands on the new leader.
(Adapted from Otzarot HaRe’iyah vol. II, pp. 179-186 by Rav Chanan Morrison)
No comments:
Post a Comment