Shlomo's Thoughts On The Torah

Strive For Peace, Not Appeasement

Aaron was known as a man of peace. He would work to make peace between people. But he was not for peace at any price. He would not sacrifice the truth for peace. He knew that appeasement never brings peace.

How Outsiders See Us

The weekly portion starts out with the Jews complaining to Moses about things but it ends with Balaam's blessings. It is to teach us that sometimes we have to take a step back and see how others see us.

Doing What We Don't Understand

Sometimes we are commanded by God to do things that we don't understand. Such as in the case of the Red Heifer. Just because we do not understand why we are commanded to do something does not make it invalid. It shows our limitations as humans.

Where Rebellion Leads

The story of Korach and his followers is a common theme throughout history. A prime example would be the Mutiny on the Bounty. What happened to the mutineers tells us what would have happened if Korach had prevailed.

Lessons in True Leadership

Now for a Quick Devar Torah Today is Gimmel Tammuz, the third day of Tammuz, an important date in Jewish history that many people are not aware of. According to tradition, it was on this day that Joshua stopped the sun during the battle in the Valley of Ayalon. The event teaches us something important about leadership. Joshua inherited the mantle of leadership from Moses. For years he was Moses' student and disciple. Like Moses, Joshua did not seek power. He did not campaign for leadership or maneuver for position. He became leader because he was chosen by God, with Moses serving as the instrument of that choice. What stands out about both Moses and Joshua is that neither wanted leadership for its own sake. Moses spent days at the burning bush trying to avoid the job. Yet both men understood that once they were called, they had a responsibility to serve. This idea appears in this week's haftarah as well. The prophet Samuel responds to the people's demand for a king. God allows Saul to be appointed king, but Samuel makes clear what kingship means. The king is not there to enrich himself or to satisfy a desire for power. He is God's servant and the servant of the people. Leadership is not about privilege; it is about responsibility. That is the exact opposite of Korach's mistake. Korach looked at Moses and saw the trappings of leadership. He saw honor, influence, and authority. Moses, however, saw himself differently. The Torah's greatest description of Moses is not "ruler" or "commander." He is called Eved Hashem—the servant of God. It is fitting that we do not know where Moses is buried. The Torah deliberately conceals his burial place so that we would never turn Moses into an idol. Contrast this with many totalitarian regimes. In the former Soviet Union, in China, and in North Korea, the bodies of founding leaders are preserved and displayed. People are encouraged to venerate the individual. Judaism takes a different approach. We honor the teachings of our leaders, their character, and their service—not their physical remains. If someone asked us what Moses looked like, we could only guess. Perhaps he had a beard. Beyond that, we do not know, because the person is less important than the mission. The Torah even tells us that when Moses accounted for the donations to the Mishkan, he was extraordinarily careful to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Our sages note that he had no pockets in which anyone could accuse him of hiding money. Moses understood that leadership requires transparency and accountability. This brings us back to Korach. Korach spoke the language of equality and fairness. His argument sounded reasonable: "The entire congregation is holy. Why should Moses and Aaron lead?" But beneath the rhetoric was a desire for power. History teaches us to be careful when people promise equality as a path to power. The Communist movements of the twentieth century promised equality, yet often produced societies in which everyone was equally poor—except for the ruling elite, who somehow became "more equal than others." True leaders do not seek power for themselves. They accept responsibility for others. Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and Saul at his best understood that leadership is service. Korach saw leadership as privilege. That difference made all the difference. Something to think about.