Parshat Beha’alotcha: Moshe – He’s A Boss
Oh people, look around you
The signs are everywhere
You’ve left it for somebody, other than you
To be the one to care
–Jackson Browne
In this week’s parsha, toward the end, there is a little spat that takes place between siblings. Miriam expresses to Aaron something she feels is amiss with brother, Moshe. Without getting into the details of the issue, the Torah relates how God Himself comes to Moshe’s defense by explaining the background to Moshe’s behavior that Miriam disapproves of. In it, the Torah testifies that “Moshe was very humble. Moreso than any other person on the face of the earth.”
Humble. It is a curious description of Moshe when you think about it. Think back to the first time we meet Moshe in Shemot/Exodus as he explores his Hebrew roots when “he goes out to his brothers to witness their burdens.” He did not have to do this and could have easily avoided the whole messy situation if he remained in the comfy confines of Pharaoh’s palace where he was raised. But he doesn’t and instead ventures out to see his impoverished and abused brothers and sisters.
Whilst investigating, he observes an Egyptian taskmaster viscously beating a Jew and immediately springs into action. Right then and there he kills the Egyptian and saves the life of the victimized slave. The next day he again mingles among the slaves and he comes across two Jews arguing with one another. As one readies to strike the other, Moshe steps forward and he again intervenes. However this time his efforts are thwarted when the perpetrator questions his meddling and asks, “Who appointed you as a judge and ruler over us? Are you going to kill me the way you killed that Egyptian yesterday?”
Well, now that it’s made the news, Moshe realizes that he’d better get outta’ Dodge since killing an Egyptian to save a Hebrew slave is akin to killing a Nazi in Germany to save a Jew. He flees to Midian where he comes across Jethro’s daughters being hassled as they attempt to draw water from the local well. Again Moshe jumps into the fray and drives away the tormenters. He then provides water to the flocks of the damsels in distress.
These earlier confrontations do not seem to jive with this week’s Torah description of Moshe being exceedingly humble. I am not so sure if most people would define this sort of aggressive and even violent behavior as humble.
Further making this a curious description of Moshe is the role he undertakes in the Battle of the Gods between God Almighty and the Egyptian gods. This heavyweight matchup became a showdown of their respective representatives – Pharaoh, the most powerful man on earth, and Moshe. And we haven’t even touched upon Moshe’s role as Law-giver of the Torah and leader of the nation. After all of this, can we still call Moshe humble?
When one thinks of humility, the image of a small, quiet, unassuming and self-effacing individual comes to mind. A humble person is someone who tries to avoid conflicts at all costs, not insinuate themselves into the middle of them. A humble person will readily give in and act passively in most situations not actively try to correct them – with force if necessary. “Humble” certainly doesn’t seem to be the appropriate description of a man who repeatedly confronts evil-doers and is even willing to take the life of another when he deems it necessary to do so.
So maybe our view and definition of humble and humility are wrong. Rabbi Noah Weinberg zt”l used to remark that Moshe exemplifies the true definition of humility. A humble person is one who realizes that while he may not be significant in the larger scheme of things, Truth, Righteousness and Goodness certainly are and they are paramount. The humble man doesn’t view himself as a zero who has no contribution to what is noble and great, but someone who ensures that he not allow his ego nor his pettiness to get in the way of achieving those loftier values. The humble person realizes that he is not the goal, but Truth and Morality are the goals and he must do any and everything to achieve those goals.
People can lose their sense of true humility in one of two opposite ways: Either they think of themselves as too small to make a difference. Or they deem themselves to be too great and important thus allowing their inflated egos to become an obstacle in making the world a better place. Both the one who sees himself as a nothing, or the one who overinflates his ego, are equally at fault as they each, in their own way, do not live up to the true definition of humility.
Moshe didn’t care about his position among the Egyptian monarchy and how it may be jeopardized if he makes waves to right the wrongs of his adopted nation. He could have easily decided not to get involved in the injustices around him and lived happily ever after in the opulence of Pharaoh’s palace. Buts he throws all of this aside, discards it, because he is aware that Justice and Morality are supreme and so he must do whatever he can to fight for it. Whatever personal consequences may ensue are not a consideration and they are completely irrelevant in his eyes. In Moshe’s mind, he doesn’t count, only the greater good does and no self-esteem nor ego issues can be allowed to get in the way of doing what is necessary for that end.
It is quite ironic that only when one totally forgets themselves – their needs, their fears, their wish for legitimacy in the eyes of the community, their sense of “But what will people think of me?” – only then can one finally actualize their true and full potential that is latent in being truly humble. A real humble person is one who doesn’t put his own agenda or needs ahead of the greater good for his people and for the world.
If we live our lives with real humility then greatness awaits us. A greatness and leadership similar to that of Moshe, the greatest and most humble person of all time. Humility and Greatness – two qualities that go hand in hand.
Oh people, look among you
It’s there your hope must lie…
We all must do the best we can
