Parashat Behaalotecha

The Pasuk said; "and I will take from the spirit which is on you and place it on them and they shall bear with you the burden of the people" (Bamidbar 11.17).

After hearing the grievances of the people concerning the Manna, Moshe told Hashem that the burden of leading the people was too heavy for him to bear alone.  Hashem answered by ordering Moshe to choose seventy of the elders of the congregation who would share in the leadership. 

In our verse, Hashem promised to give them the greatest of spirit which they will need to help lead the people.

In explaining the word “Veatsalti” Rashi cites the Aramaic transcription of Onkelos ”and I will make them great from the spirit which is on you" meaning that Moshe’s spirit will make the others great.

How would this help Moshe? If his spirit was not strong enough for him to bear the people, how would sharing his spirit with others create additional strength?

Rashi provides an eloquent image to answer this question.  Moshe, he says, was like a candle.  No matter how many candles are lit from it, its own light is not diminished.  In other words, Hashem intended to use Moshe’s greatness of spirit to kindle the spirit of the elders.  He would remain unchanged but the others would grow from their exposure to him. Together, they would be able to bear the burdens of the people.

This concept suggests an important principle in education.  A teacher cannot give abilities to a student as such; rather his objective must be to arouse the potential which is latent in the student and to channel it towards desirable goals.   ----  from “Kol Dodi”

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Benhamu