SHEPHERD OF THE FLOCK

Political leadership around the globe is in shambles. This week, President Joe Biden informed the citizens of the United States that he is pulling out of the upcoming presidential election. The announcement came as no surprise to many considering that Biden has been making more and more errors and that he appears to be in the early stages of senility. One wonders what the Democratic Party was thinking or whether they were thinking at all. Was it not obvious to everyone that Biden could not function as the President? Biden’s decision to withdraw almost guarantees a victory for Donald Trump, one of the most divisive leaders in recent history. The failed assassination attempt on Trump on 13 July has left him emboldened and highly motivated to win the election. 

In South Africa, the ANC lost some 17% of their support in the May elections, effectively removing the majority position they have enjoyed since the first democratic elections in 1994. The country is now run by a Government of National Unity. It is too soon to predict how successful the GNU will be but it certainly faces enormous challenges, least of all how former enemies are going to work together. 

In the United Kingdom, the Conservatives received a black eye from the Labour Party in the July elections, losing some 19% in the poll. Across the Channel, there were also political shenanigans. Legislative elections were held in France  in June and July to elect all 577 members of the 17th National Assembly of the Fifth French Republic. The election followed the dissolution of the National Assembly by President Emmanuel Macron, triggering a snap election after the National Rally (RN) made substantial gains and Macron’s Besoin d’Europe electoral list lost a significant number of seats in the 2024 European Parliament election in France. The New Popular Front, an alliance of several left-wing parties, received the largest number of seats in the elections, gaining a relative majority in the National Assembly with 182 members elected. 

Our beloved State of Israel is also facing a leadership crisis and has been for several years. Between 2018 and 2022, there were five Knesset snap elections! Binyamin Netanyahu seems determined to hold on to power at any cost but he is very unpopular with many in Israel and his current handling of the Gaza War has not endeared him to his enemies.

There is very little stability in the current political arena. There appears to be a dearth of strong, dedicated leaders who place the needs of their citizens above their own or those of their parties. Politicians seem to be in politics to further their own agendas. Contrast this attitude with the words of Rabban Gamliel in the Talmud (Horayot 10b) who told two great Torah scholars that leadership is not about power and authority but about servitude: A leader is a servant of the people. Moreover, electorates are not voting for the candidates they prefer but rather to ensure that the candidates they do not like will not take power.  Democrats in America would rather have a senile, doddering old man as President than see Donald Trump win a second term. Republicans, on the other hand, are so opposed to the values of the Democratic Party that they will fight tooth and nail to have Trump elected, notwithstanding impeachment charges against him and a very problematic history.

We see a very different outlook to leadership in our parsha. Hashem tells Moshe to ascend the mountain of Arabim and see the Land, thereafter “you shall be gathered to your people.” (Bamidbar 27:13) Upon hearing of his imminent death, Moshe turns to God and says (ibid verse 16), “May Hashem, God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the assembly, who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall take them out and bring them in; and let the assembly of Hashem not be like sheep that have no shepherd.”  Rashi’s commentary of this verse provides illuminating ides about leadership. 

Firstly, as explained by the Midrash (Sifrei 138), Moshe’s request demonstrates his commitment to the nation: before he puts his own affairs in order, he engages in communal affairs and seeks to appoint an appropriate successor. Secondly, Moshe uses an uncommon phrase to refer to Hashem, “God of the spirits of all flesh.” His intention, as explained by the Midrash (Tanchuma 10), is as follows: Just as the personality and temperament of every human being is known to You, please appoint over them a leader that can tolerate each person according to his temperament and personality”. Moshe does not seek the type of leader we have become accustomed to, one that represents only a certain group of the population be they liberal, conservative, poor, wealthy, educated or working class. He wants a leader for everyone, a man who can deal with different opinions, outlooks and values. Moshe opposed what has become known today as Identity Politics, which is political activity or movements based on or catering to the cultural, ethnic, gender, racial, religious, or social interests that characterise a group identity.

Moshe’s next job description was that his successor “shall go out before them and come in before them.”  Rashi cites the Midrash (Sifrei 139) on this verse, “He must not behave like the kings of the nations who sit in their homes and send their troops to war, rather he should emulate me, as I did when we fought against Sichon and Og.” A leader must lead from the front. He must be bold and courageous. He must be decisive and follow his decisions through to their conclusions. He must lead by example and set the tone for the people.

Finally, Moshe asked that the leader “take them out and bring them in”. Rashi writes one word to explain this request, bizchuyotav, “with his merits.” His personal merits should be substantial enough to protect the people from harm and bring them success. He must be a person of virtue, integrity, honesty and strong character. There should not be a contradiction between his external and internal personas. God acquiesced to Moshe’s request and told him to appoint his disciple Joshua as his successor. When one reads the Book of Joshua, one notices that he did indeed possess all of these qualities. There was time when the world had great leaders. Please God we will merit to have them again soon!

Lee, Chani Merryl and Naomi join me in wishing you Shabbat Shalom!    

Rabbi Liebenberg

Link to Rabbi’s YouTube message for Shabbat: https://youtu.be/NXBvsmOuClM?si=2l7IwL4HL0GAqxWp

Lee and I will be attending the annual Rabbinical Conference, which this year is taking place in KZN from 29-31 July. We are staying in KZN for a few more days and will be back in office on Monday 5 August.