Crucial Qualities in a Leader

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah (www.bircas.org)

In Parshas Pinchas (Bamidbar 27:16–17), Moshe Rabbeinu asks Hashem to appoint a new leader to replace him. Hashem gives this role to Yehoshua. Why did Hashem choose Yehoshua? Surely there were other worthy candidates, such as Calev, the nasi of Yehuda, who courageously spoke out against the spies; Pinchas, who saved the nation with his zealotry; and Osniel ben Kenaz, who would restore many of the laws that Yehoshua had forgotten (as we will discuss). Many members of the Sanhedrin may have attained higher levels of learning than Yehoshua. Perhaps the position should have gone to Moshe Rabbeinu’s own sons [Bamidbar Rabbah 21:14]. Why was Yehoshua the one who was most worthy?

The Midrash (ibid.) states that Hashem chose Yehoshua for his extreme dedication to Moshe Rabbeinu. He would rise early in order to arrange the benches, and he was the last to leave. Hashem testified that of all of Moshe’s students, only Yehoshua served him with all his might. We get a glimpse of this dedication in Parshas Mishpatim (Rashi on Shemos 24:13), where Yehoshua remained at the foot of Har Sinai for forty days, waiting for Moshe to return. The other students returned to their tents, planning to greet Moshe when he would return. However, Yehoshua was worried that Moshe would come down earlier than expected, and he would miss precious moments with his rebbe if he didn’t remain there.

Still, as important as serving one’s rebbe is, why should this be the determining factor for choosing Moshe’s successor? Serving Moshe doesn’t mean that he was qualified to lead. Doesn’t leadership also require experience, personality, and vision?

Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz explains that the Jewish people do not need leaders. We need the continuity of the Torah that Moshe Rabbeinu taught. Therefore, the person who will lead Klal Yisrael must embody the previous generation, connecting us to Har Sinai. Yehoshua was Moshe’s primary student. Because he never left Moshe’s side, he had integrated his message better than anyone else. Servicing his rebbe had taught him how Moshe Rabbeinu would have acted in any given situation. Yehoshua achieved greater understanding than any of the others. The Avnei Nezer (352) says that Yehoshua was more of a son to Moshe than Moshe’s own sons! Being that Yehoshua was the person closest to Moshe, it would almost be as if Moshe Rabbeinu’s leadership continued.

The Gemara (Temura 16a) recounts that when Moshe was about to die, he asked Yehoshua if he had any more questions. This took Yehoshua by surprise; did Moshe doubt his ability to carry on the tradition?

“Did I ever leave you for a moment?” Yehoshua asked rhetorically.

Immediately, Yehoshua forgot three hundred halachos, and an additional seven hundred halachic doubts arose in his mind. The Jewish nation was so angry at Yehoshua that they wanted to kill him! Fortunately, Osniel ben Kenaz retrieved these halachos through analysis, saving the nation from disaster. We see that even Yehoshua was expected to learn from his rebbe until the last moment. What he had already accomplished was not enough. As long as his rebbe was alive, there was still more to learn from him. Because Yehoshua forsook his final opportunity to learn from Moshe Rabbeinu, the Torah was almost forgotten.

We too must make a special effort to utilize the time that we have with our rebbeim to the fullest.

When defining the extent to which one should strive to be with his rebbe, Chazal use surprisingly strong words: “You should sully yourself in the dust of their feet, and drink their words thirstily.” (Avos 1:4) The Seforno notes that Chazal speak of drinking in a rebbe’s words, not just his shiur on the Gemara. If you see your rebbe at a wedding or in the grocery store, these are priceless opportunities to learn from him.

Even if there is no exchange of Torah at such meetings, the chance to observe one’s rebbe going about his affairs is also an opportunity that should not be missed. Chazal say, “The talk of a Torah scholar going about his mundane affairs [also] requires study.” (Sukkah 21b)

The Maharal comments that when Chazal say we should drink our rebbe’s words thirstily, this is even if the words are not so pleasant. A rebbe may find it necessary to rebuke his student, and our natural reflex might be to break away and avoid hearing those harsh words. No, says the Maharal. Chazal are admonishing us not only to stay and absorb the rebuke, but even to appreciate it like a thirsty man appreciates a glass of water. Everything that we hear from the rebbe can help us grow.

Rav Yisrael Salanter writes that he always made sure to be with his rebbe. He reviewed his rebbe’s shiurim over and over until he had internalized his rebbe’s thought process and his way of analyzing the Gemara. He would follow his rebbe wherever he went. When they would reach his home, Rav Yisrael would walk in too. Sometimes, when he showed no interest in leaving, his rebbe would scold him, “Will you leave me alone already?” However, Rav Yisrael testifies that this persistence was what made him into the great man he was.

May we be zocheh to cling to our rebbeim!

NEW! HOT OFF THE PRESS!
Rabbi Krieger’s “Gedolei Yisroel on the Parashah & Yamim Tovim” is now available from the Yeshiva office, Jewish bookstores worldwide and can be ordered online at

.