Parsha Paragraphs
Rabbi Naftali Kassorla
Parshat Shoftim
A Revelatory Mindset
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In this week’s parsha Moshe delineates further to the Jewish People the path they should follow for the future, preparing them for a reality without him.
Moshe teaches the nation about the concept of נבואה (prophecy) saying:
A prophet from your midst...shall Hashem, your G-d, establish for you – to him shall you hearken...In accordance with all you asked of Hashem (ככל אשר שאלת), your G-d, in Horeb [Har Sinai] on the day of Assembly, saying, “I can no longer hear the voice of Hashem, my G-d, and this great fire I can no longer see, lest I die…” Then Hashem said to me [Moshe], “They have done well in what they have said..I will establish a prophet for them from among their brethren, like you, and I will place My words in his mouth...” (18:15-18)
Moshe tells the nation that the reason they will receive prophets to guide them is due to the fact that during the revelation at Har Sinai, they asked Moshe to serve as the messenger, rather than have Hashem speak to them directly. They said they could not endure under the intensity of G-d’s Presence.
The implication here is that the special gift of נבואה to the Jewish People was a direct result – perhaps even a reward – for the people’s request for a conduit [Moshe]. Why is this so? The people felt they were unable to handle the Divine revelation. Seemingly, G-d could have provided prophets for Klal Yisrael, whether or not they had made this statement at Har Sinai. Couldn’t the זכות of having prophets be independent from the nation’s request? Why was their request a prerequisite for this gift?
I would like to suggest that the statement the Jewish People made was not just a request for a conduit, but perhaps it was also a statement of self-awareness. The Nation came to the important understanding that human beings have limitations; that they cannot fathom the overpowering greatness of G-d, and that in comparison to Him, we are miniscule. Thus, they felt they needed a conduit between them and G-d.
This realization is inherently opposed to the nature of man; we have a drive to build and conquer. We may “bite off more than we can chew,” assuming we are all-powerful. However, when we personally come to a humble perspective, it can open up for us possibilities we never had before.
This lesson was illustrated perfectly in an interview I once heard featuring a top CEO from a Fortune 500 company, who is renowned for his success and business acumen. He was asked to explain the secret to his success. His answer came quickly and confidently. He lamented how in his early years, he thought himself to be flawless – that he could do it all – and he had a hard time delegating tasks to his employees. Inevitably, he would find himself swamped and overwhelmed, scuttling many business opportunities. His success came only after he learned to relinquish control – when, through self introspection, he gained the ability to understand his own limitations and rely on others in the company to fill those gaps. The acceptance of his shortcomings was what lead to his massive success.
This is surely true in our spiritual lives as well; the need to recognize and embrace our limitations can actually be the very thing that leads to success. According to this explanation, we can now better understand why Moshe attributes the giving of prophecy to the nation’s statement at Har Sinai. Their request was integral to receiving this gift.
The job of a נביא is to act as a spiritual guide for the nation. He is someone who is able to discern the particular needs of the people, and tells them how to act accordingly. However, this guidance can only be given to those who realize that they don’t have all the answers themselves. Only to someone seeking to learn and grow, can actually be guided. In order for one to receive that guidance, they must come to understand and accept their limitations, on their own. And once they do, the possibilities for achievement expand. For now they are not acting within their own strengths and limitations; they have the aid of others who can help them reach amazing heights. Moshe, in referencing this episode, imparts to us this important lesson.
It is no coincidence that such a breakthrough in mindset came specifically at the time of our nation’s greatest spiritual peak, and that it merited them a reward of a new level of connection with Hashem.
This lesson is also fitting for the month of Elul while we are engaged in חשבון הנפש (introspection) and thoughts of repentance. In doing so, we will become aware of our shortcomings, but let us not feel discouraged. Rather we can and should be motivated by the fact that this recognition can be a catalyst for growth. It's all in the mindset.
Shabbat Shalom
