Poor Holy Moses

A great Rabbi arrived one Sunday morning in a small rural town. The president of the synagogue asked the Rabbi to help with a local problem.

“All the people here think they are just perfect!” said the President. “Could you preach a sermon that will bring them back to their senses?”

The Rabbi was a gifted speaker, eloquent with words and knowledgeable about the Scripture. He spoke for nearly an hour, convincing everyone that they too were sinners. Finally, the Rabbi was sure he had set everyone straight.

To reaffirm that they were all thinking alike, the Rabbi finally asked: “Is there anyone here who thinks he is perfect?”

Everyone was looking at the floor, thinking quietly. Slowly, one man in the back stood up.

The Rabbi asked the man, “And why do you stand, sir?”

The man said, “I am not perfect, but I am standing in memory of my wife’s first husband who was.”

***

The leader picked up the unlimited phone line to G-d and placed a call.

“Dear Boss, my people need water! What should I do?”

“Moses, go talk to the rock and tell it to start giving water!”

“No problem, Boss. Over and out.”

Moses quickly approached a rock, mistakenly thinking this was the one he was supposed to converse with, and he made an impassioned plea for water. Alas, no water was forthcoming.

All the Jews were standing and nagging. Moses got impatient and lifted his staff to hit a rock. The staff landed on the intended rock, and, immediately, water started gushing out. Mission accomplished; everyone was happy.

But not G-d. He was furious at the open desecration of the Divine commandment. He had specifically requested that the rock be spoken to, not beaten. So as punishment Moses…

Was not allowed to enter Israel!

Sounds a bit over the top, to terminate one’s life dream just for one seemingly minute detail?

Not so when it comes to a leader, to Moses. From him perfection is expected. When a child does something wrong we overlook it, yet it is not the same for an adult. Due to his maturity, much more is expected from him. And especially if that adult holds a public, prestigious position, the smallest slight is magnified exponentially, glaring in the public view.

Moses was the leader, the one who spoke to G-d daily: from him G-d expected total obedience, nothing less than perfection. High up on the hierarchal ladder and in the public light, every detail held tremendous significance.

On perhaps a smaller scale, we are all children of the Almighty. The Jewish people are expected to be a “light unto the nations.” We have been blessed with an awesome privilege, raised high on a pedestal. And that uniqueness comes with profound responsibility – for the light we hold high will spread its glow in all directions. We carry a flashlight, and only if the glass is clear will the light radiate clearly. Our way of life is beautiful. It must look beautiful. Let us make sure that our light, the passion of Torah and Mitzvos, is pure, bright, and untainted.

Do something about it

Be careful – many people are following our path. Let no one stumble on the road.