Parshat Behalotecha; Numbers 8:1 -12:16

In our weekly portion of the Torah, Behalotecha, in the book of Numbers, the nature of leadership and authority runs through it as a theme. The burdens of leadership upon Moses continue to weigh down upon him. Previously, his father-in-law, Jethro had mentored Moses to share responsibilities with the elders of Israel. Jethro taught Moses to appoint leaders to share in the judging needed by the people. But Moses still needs to share more of the duties because the constant pull of the people begins to eat away at his own relationship with the Divine. So much so that Moses’ himself complains to God much like the people who complain at every turn. “The people took to complaining bitterly before Adonai (Numbers 11:1).

Moses speaks with God, “Did I conceive this entire people, did I bear them….I cannot carry all this people by myself, for it is too much for me (Num. 11:12, 14).” Moses seems to have reached his limit. More than a year after the exodus from Egypt, Moses has brought the people safely through the Red Sea and the experience at Mt. Sinai. He has led them to build the Tabernacle and dedicate it. He has helped to set up the
Priesthood and he helped the people navigate through the treacherous terrain of the wilderness. He has followed God’s plan and adjudicated difficult cases and situations that have come up between people. He has listened to God and to the Israelites often mediating between the two and having to calm both. But now Moses needs additional help. The stress of the constant pull of both the earthly concerns and the heavenly concerns put Moses’ in a difficult position.

Thus seventy elders now will share more of the leadership responsibilities. The Rabbinic tradition identifies these seventy with those chosen by Moses to share in judging cases back in the book of Exodus (18:13-27). But now these seventy leaders from the various tribes are anointed by God in a special way. God takes some of the special “spirit” that is in Moses and places it in them. “I will draw upon the spirit that is on you and put it upon them; they shall share the burden of the people with you and you shall not bear it alone (Num. 11:17).”

There is some kind of spiritual power, spiritual blessing, divine glory that Moses has and now will be shared with these leaders. This unique and holy spirit comes from the word in Hebrew, atzilut-or emanation. In the mystical tradition of Kabbalah—the world of atzilut-is considered the highest of four spiritual worlds or realms. This is closest to the Divine reality and at one with the Divine Light. If we read our portion through this mystical lens, God transferred and shared some of the Divine Light and Glory that previously resided in Moses with each of them.

This is a profound moment for the People Israel. In this transfer and sharing it allows others to be called to a higher and divine purpose. Once the realm only of Moses (and perhaps Aaron and Miriam) this Divine emanation is now shared with many others. So too the responsibility and administrative duties as well but all are in a context of divine holiness and spirit. The elders are called into sacred service.

This gift is further shared with two more that are named in the Torah portion, Medad and Eldad. They too have an ecstatic moment that seems to go beyond the time when God enabled the spirit to rest with the seventh elders. Joshua, Moses assistant and eventual successor, seems greatly concerned by their prophesying and wishes to restrain them. Joshua interprets that this Divine gift of spirit is only for some but Moses to his credit articulates that this Holy gift of the Divine emanation is indeed better when shared and is not in the least threatened by it. He says, “would that all Adonai’s people were prophets, that Adonai’s spirit was upon them! (Num. 11:29).”

For each of us this gives us hope! For we too might tap into this Divine and special spirit that would elevate our service to our community and our people. Just as the seventy elders of old were able to faithfully serve God and the Israelite people so too, we might share in the leadership and direction of our people. We might be able with prayer, service, mitzvot and reflection to receive that gift of spirit and engage in sacred service. The challenge is to listen to the call and to be open to receiving such a Divine and holy gift.

Volunteering for the synagogue is this opportunity to be called into sacred service and receive a special measure of this spirit. Service to the sacred community of the synagogue is at its best an opportunity to be called into a partnership not just with fellow congregants and community but into a unique partnership with the Holy One of Blessing. I invite you to share in this sacred duty and consider becoming involved in this sacred service on behalf of our congregation, Kol Ami. This privilege, this honor to serve brings with it responsibility but also great benefits of friendship, honor, the true knowledge of making a difference in the world and creating healing and justice, and yes as in our Torah portion perhaps receiving a measure of the Divine glory.

We invite you to be a part of this great enterprise. This week we are seeking new volunteers for leadership as we rebuild and renew our social action committee and ritual and adult education committee. We are seeking new volunteers who have time to come into our office and new volunteers to help with defeating the ballot initiative against marriage in the fall. We are seeking new volunteers for our membership committee and new volunteers for our marketing and development committees.

We hope you will want to be part of this sacred service.

Posted by Aaron at June 11, 2008 08:49 AM