blogs/rabbi-huberman

Sometimes, in Judaism, the simplest answer is the best answer.

This week's Torah reading, Chukat (Ritual Laws) is particularly important because it marks beginning of the end of Israel's dynasty of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

Early in the Torah portion, Miriam dies. Later, Aaron dies too. But perhaps the most controversial and unsettling story is the one which ultimately leads to Moses being forbidden to enter the Promised Land.

The Midrash, our collection of stories and commentaries, posits that Miriam possessed an amazing ability to locate water. After she dies, Moses finds it difficult to quench the nation's thirst.

God commands Moses to speak to a rock, and promises that water will spring forth. But, angered by the incessant grumbling of a thirsty nation, Moses strikes the rock, twice.

Water gushes forth, but God is angry, and so banishes Moses from the land of Israel. For centuries, our Sages have asked why.

This was Moses - who never asked to be leader.

This was Moses - who risked his life confronting Pharaoh.

This was Moses - who for forty years listened to the incessant complaints of the Jewish people.

So, ask the Rabbis, why did God choose this moment to punish Moses?

Was this payback for Moses killing the Egyptian slave master forty years earlier? Perhaps this was the ultimate penalty for publicly disobeying God.

I once posed the same question to my mentor, Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz, of blessed memory. "After all of his sacrifices, why was Moses not allowed to enter the land of Canaan?"

Rabbi Joe asked, "Can you handle the truth?"

I nodded.

"The reason that Moses did not enter the Promised Land," said Rabbi Joe, "Was that he died."

I creased my forehead. "He died? What kind of answer is that? Where is the divine wisdom in that?"

"There are many stories in Bible," Rabbi Joe explained, "but we can never look at them as history. We can only use them as a foundation to teach us lessons."

He noted that within so many Middle Eastern traditions, there existed a flood around the time of Noah. So what? Floods happen. But ours is one of the only nations to teach that God sent a flood because the people were evil.

Historical records indicate that during the time of the Exodus, Egypt endured many plagues. Judaism connects the Egyptians' misfortune with God's anger.

Rabbi Ehrenkranz contended that there were two reasons why Moses could not proceed to Israel.

The first, as he'd answered earlier: Moses died before he got there.

But also there was also a more contemporary lesson.

"What would have happened if Moses would have made it to Israel?" Rabbi Joe asked. "Could you imagine that each time his successor, Joshua, made some unpopular decision, the people wouldn't have come running to Moses, in his retirement, to complain?

"Perhaps," he finished, "what the Torah is trying to teach is that Judaism is not about one person or one generation. At some point we need to pass leadership forward."

And that is a philosophy I myself had pursued during my previous careers in business and government: "As soon as you are hired, begin training your successor."

It's sometimes difficult to do. If you begin grooming your successor, isn't there a possibility that he or she will replace you before you are ready?

Perhaps. But, more often than not, planning your successor makes it possible for your life's work to continue.

This advice relates to our involvement in community organizations. It relates to those who hold on to political office too long.

It also means talking to our children and grandchildren about our values, and what is important to us, so that what we began can continue to evolve.

It is so interesting that, amongst all the rabbinical discussions about why Moses died in the desert, so many have perhaps missed the simplest answer of all.

Each of us is destined to die. If we do not make room for a new generation, we -- and the passions that we have invested in -- run the risk of dying in the wilderness.

It also means that if we are to instill a love of Judaism, social justice and family values in the next generation, then we need to commit our efforts towards raising new and inspired generations, within the realities of the present and future.

In the end, this week's Torah portion teaches us about the importance of continuity. Joshua will ultimately assume leadership from Moses, and he will do so in Israel without his mentor standing in the background.

There are days in my rabbinical practice when I wonder what Rabbi Joe would do. Life is complicated, so is the role of a rabbi.

As I mark my 65th birthday next week, I will think about how fortunate I am to have such a wonderful family. I will bless God for our congregation.

I will think of my grandparents, of blessed memory, who guided me both in the ways of social justice, and in Judaism's formal prayers and traditions.

I will also think of Rabbi Joe, whose example of wisdom, kindness and love of humanity continues to inspire me.

During the month of July, I will be away from the office, attempting to complete a book highlighting many of his teachings. I hope to do his memory justice.

We cannot and should not completely mirror our mentors. We can only be ourselves.

All we have is a central message inspired from this week's Torah portion. "Each of us is mandated to train our successor."

From Moses to Joshua -- from Joshua to you and me -- and into the future.

L'Dor V'Dor - from generation to generation.

For as Jews - this is how we grow.

Shabbat Shalom v'kol tuv.

Rabbi Irwin Huberman