Beha’alotkha 5773

By Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik
Kol Shearith Israel - Panamá

“Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any other man on earth” (Num. 12:3).  What do we learn from this verse, which appears towards the end of Parashat Beha’Alotkha?

In the first place, that Moses was definitely not an Argentine easy joke, but in harmony with the fame we have developed).  In the second place, it is hard to imagine the “humblest man of all” writing in the Torah about how humble he is (even if God dictated the text, it is still difficult).

And now, seriously, humility is a quality that characterizes Moses throughout his life, and especially in his role as a leader of the people.  It is not surprising, then, that the Torah grants him this distinction, but perhaps we should wonder about the time it decides to do so.

In spite of having grown up at the Egyptian royal palace, Moses never acquired the nobility’s arrogance, nor with delusions of grandeur.  Exiled in Midian, he assimilated into his father-in-law’s family, without ever being out of place and adopting their modest way of life, devoted to the tending of his sheep (Ex. 3:1).  Even when God appears before him in the form of a burning bush and summons him to redeem the enslaved people, Moses’ answer distils modesty: "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and free the Israelites from Egypt?" (Idem 3:11)

And after he became the main leader of the Israelites, he continued acting with humility, consulting with God whenever he was uncertain about some unknown law (The son of an Egyptian father and an Israelite mother who blasphems against God – Lev. 24:10-14; the man who gathered wood on Shabbat – Num. 15:32-36; the plea of Zelophehad’s daughters – Id. 27:1-11), requesting a structure that would help him delegate responsibilities concerning the management of the people (Id. 11:14), or rejoicing before the appearance of “new prophets” (Id. 29).

These last two examples, the appointment of 70 judges to help Moses and the appearance of Eldad and Meldad predicting in the middle of the camp, precede the story framing the verse on Moses’ extraordinary humility.

The Torah tells us that Miriam and Aaron were speaking evil of their brother in relation to the Cushite woman (who could be his wife Tzipporah or another wife), and from hence, the criticism turns against the legitimacy of Moses’ exclusive leadership: "Has the Lord spoken only throughMoses?  Has He not spoken through us as well?" (Id 12:2)

Before reaching the story’s end, the Torah introduces, as a parenthesis, the comment of the humbleness of Moses.  The following passage, quite difficult at first sight, brings us the divine intervention explaining that no one, absolutely no one, can reach the intimacy level that the Lord has with Moses.

At the end of the story, God’s “incense” (Id. 12:9-10) results in Miriam’s punishment by being stricken with leprosy (It is interesting to note that there was no punishment for Aaron, although the sight of his suffering sister and knowing himself to be an accomplice to her acts, could very well serve as one, or maybe…).  Seeing her despair, Aaron asks Moses to intercede on her behalf (that could have been his punishment or perhaps having to call him “my lord” – Id. 11), and Moses magnanimously directs his plea to God, a brief, beautiful and effective petition for his sister: El na, r’fa na lah!  - “O God, pray heal her!” (Id. 13).

This possibly is Moses’ humblest gesture. At the time of victory, when even God had declared His favoritism, with no demands or reproaches, with no sarcastic smiles or haughty looks, he raises a prayer for the recovery of his sister.

When most of us, human beings, would have reacted with reproofs due to the insults received and scornful commentaries, Moses listens to his brother’s request; instead of marking his superiority by telling him to “I told you so”, he directs his voice to God, requesting the healing of Miriam.

An extraordinary gesture, without a doubt.  Though not for Moses, the humblest man on earth.

If we were to consult him on the subject, Moses, paraphrasing the well-known Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, would reply: “They say I’m humble” (“A great writer”, in the case of JLB); I’m grateful for that curious opinion, but I don’t share it.”

Shabbat Shalom,

Gustavo