Thanks to Mary Jane F.
How the Mighty Hath Fallen
This week’s Torah portion, Chukat, brings to a close a narrative arc that defines the distinct and significant differences between a broader understanding of the qualities of successful leadership and the Jewish way.
In the last few weeks, we’ve encountered a primer on the essential virtues of leadership embodied by Moses: humility, courageous vision and faith in oneself, and an intention to serve others rather than serving one’s own narcissism and aggrandizement. After establishing Moses’ bona fides as a Jewish leader, the Torah reflects the risks and costs of such an exalted status.
The people clamor and complain for water. God devises a plan for Moses to speak to a desert rock that would miraculously spew water, thus affirming God’s power and presence for the people. Moses approaches the rock with his staff as bidden by God (why the staff?!?), and as the people mock him, he responds with anger and bitterness, striking the rock rather than speaking to it. Water cascades, but Moses is chided for both giving in to anger and for undermining God as the source of the miracle. He is punished harshly with a decree that he will not be permitted to enter the Promised Land, the ultimate objective of his life’s work.
We learn that leaders are held (or should be held—especially in our current moment) to a higher standard of attitude and behavior. Thus, their fall descends from greater heights to lower depths.