SHABBAT-B'haalotcha: Step Up to the Light Together

Moses navigates a shift in the leadership this week. For over a year, the Israelites have been camped at the base of Mount Sinai and finally they pack up to journey into the deep, unpredictable wilderness. The moment they start moving, the anxiety of the unknown sets in, and the people begin to complain bitterly. Moses cries out to God: “I cannot carry this entire nation alone, for it is too heavy for me!” Moses’s breakdown is human with his mistake believing that a successful society could be sustained by one person.

God tells Moses, delegate: Gather seventy elders. Let them stand with you, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you do not have to bear it alone. Torah introduces the concept of decentralized, collaborative leadership … a real democracy. This is the very foundation of any successful, enduring civilizations (the ones that did not succeed were led by one ruler with all the power ... and then they make mistakes). They distribute power, establish checks and balances, create institutional leadership, and rely on the active civic participation of the many rather than the few.

In this week's portion we "step up" to light the golden Menorah, made from a single piece of gold, with individual lights that are bound together (like our people) with a design protects the unique flame of every individual. On our personal journeys, we are not meant to carry the weight alone, but by sharing the load and empowering those around us, we ensure that the entire camp keeps moves forward.Read more