Chukat – Hitting & Effectiveness

Listen to Rabbi Segal’s d’var Torah on Chukat here.  Full text is below.  Click here to access all episodes of “Segal’s Sentiments,” Rabbi Segal’s d’var Torah podcast.

Chukat – Hitting & Effectiveness

Moses and Aaron, were mourning the death of their sister Miriam. The people complained bitterly about their sudden lack of water. Moses and Aaron appealed to God, and God told Moses to gather the people, SPEAK to a rock, in order to extract water to satisfy the people’s thirst.

Moses was determined to get the water so instead of following God’s instructions to speak to the rock he decided to hit the rock twice with his rod. The water came gushing out. The Torah goes on to say that Moses did not trust in God and therefore he would be denied the privilege of entering the Promised Land. (Numbers 20:12) Many commentators naturally wonder why Moses, an otherwise great leader received such a harsh punishment. The Talmud and others seem to focus on Moses’ insufficient faith.

There is another component to this narrative which often gets lost in the shuffle. Rashi, the great medieval commentator points out in a simple but yet profound way that Moses lost his temper. In that vein I am really not so sure that God was that fixated on severely punishing Moses. It was certainly understandable that Moses became worn out and impatient. After all the people he served had needled him since leaving Egypt. His frustration was only natural.

I would have to surmise it was really a question of effectiveness. After Moses had displayed such a negative trait in public could he realistically serve in such an important leadership role with any degree of effectiveness?

The answer is no. One cannot be effectual in leading a community while angry. As stellar as Moses was he made an error which was irreparable. His exceptional qualities did not mitigate the fact that his image as a leader was now grossly tarnished. He looked like a King wearing an elegant crown with torn pants, he ultimately became a clown in the eyes of the people.

This lesson can apply not only to a community leader but to anyone who might be in charge of others, a parent, a teacher, someone who oversees employees or even a babysiter who has a child under her or his care. Whenever you are dealing with people you are going to be disappointed. Whichever way you choose to deal with your disappointment, whether your response is easygoing or on the harsher side never exercise your authority from a position of anger because if you do the person or people you are entrusted to serve will lose their faith in you and your influence and impact will be significantly diminished.

The fact remains that it is not an easy task to compel people under our aegis to do the right things. Who among us has not lost it from time to time? I too get tired or angry both personally and professionally when people either deliberately disobey me or misunderstand me. I have learnt that sometimes it is best to pause for a bit or even a couple of days before addressing those who might agitate me in some way.

The story is told of a very religious gentleman who did not have a secular education or any other productive skill set which would enable him to make a living so he decided he wanted to teach in a Yeshiva school. This person knew however that he had a massive temper so he went to an important Rabbi to seek advice about what to do and the Rabbi told him that he should not be teaching people because his temper would undermine the important message he was trying to convey. The gentleman responded however that he needed to make an income just like everyone else. The Rabbi’s advice to him was “Drive a taxi.”