Dear Friends,
Power sharing can be difficult.
No – I am not addressing laying one’s low-power cellphone on another’s device to charge the phone.
Rather, in community, government and even families, power sharing can be difficult. Many people seek or covet power. Some seem to have inherited it, while others appear to have earned or develop it. Either way, when one has power, one rarely shares it or dispenses with it.
Years ago, an older, wiser rabbinic colleague taught that power is never given, only taken.
Hence, an interesting verse in this week’s Torah portion catches the eye.
Moses was nearing the last months of his tenure as our leaders in the desert and in the Torah, and preparations were afoot to transfer his leadership role to his successor, Joshua. God instructed Moses to “Invest him with some of your authority, so that the whole Israelite community may obey.” (Numbers 27:20)
Of interest is the phrase, “some of your authority.” It is a Hebrew phrase, meihodecha, which only appears here in all of Torah, so it’s uniqueness is also curious. It cannot be compared to other, similar citations in Torah. What may it mean?
Some contend that the verse teaches that Moses was to share his power and role with Joshua, even while Moses was still present and in command. Others suggest that the verse teaches that Moses only shared a portion of his authority with Joshua’ some of it was reserved or retained only for Moses. Both options are telling. The former suggests a magnanimity of the leader, while the latter suggests the absolute uniqueness of Moses’ role and leadership, and that it could not be fully shared.
Power is very unusual. Unlike a bowl of fruit which can be shared, or allotted time in a speaking engagement which can be shared or deferred, power lacks measurement or boundaries, yet one knows it when it is encountered. Moreover, one knows when one has a measure of power, or even more so, when one lacks it. But, sharing it is immensely difficult.
Thus, the Torah’s message is fascinating. We many never know fully what transpired with Moses and Joshua, but we can be attentive to power and power sharing in our own lives. It is good to have sensitive antennae to whom and where power may be situated in our communities. And, it is just as worthwhile to be attentive to the limits and potential of one’s own power.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Power sharing can be difficult.
No – I am not addressing laying one’s low-power cellphone on another’s device to charge the phone.
Rather, in community, government and even families, power sharing can be difficult. Many people seek or covet power. Some seem to have inherited it, while others appear to have earned or develop it. Either way, when one has power, one rarely shares it or dispenses with it.
Years ago, an older, wiser rabbinic colleague taught that power is never given, only taken.
Hence, an interesting verse in this week’s Torah portion catches the eye.
Moses was nearing the last months of his tenure as our leaders in the desert and in the Torah, and preparations were afoot to transfer his leadership role to his successor, Joshua. God instructed Moses to “Invest him with some of your authority, so that the whole Israelite community may obey.” (Numbers 27:20)
Of interest is the phrase, “some of your authority.” It is a Hebrew phrase, meihodecha, which only appears here in all of Torah, so it’s uniqueness is also curious. It cannot be compared to other, similar citations in Torah. What may it mean?
Some contend that the verse teaches that Moses was to share his power and role with Joshua, even while Moses was still present and in command. Others suggest that the verse teaches that Moses only shared a portion of his authority with Joshua’ some of it was reserved or retained only for Moses. Both options are telling. The former suggests a magnanimity of the leader, while the latter suggests the absolute uniqueness of Moses’ role and leadership, and that it could not be fully shared.
Power is very unusual. Unlike a bowl of fruit which can be shared, or allotted time in a speaking engagement which can be shared or deferred, power lacks measurement or boundaries, yet one knows it when it is encountered. Moreover, one knows when one has a measure of power, or even more so, when one lacks it. But, sharing it is immensely difficult.
Thus, the Torah’s message is fascinating. We many never know fully what transpired with Moses and Joshua, but we can be attentive to power and power sharing in our own lives. It is good to have sensitive antennae to whom and where power may be situated in our communities. And, it is just as worthwhile to be attentive to the limits and potential of one’s own power.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
