Expectations of a Jewish Leader

The case of the daughters of צלפחד showed how much the women loved the Land of Israel, and how important it was for them to also inherit the land.

Their appeal to Moshe Rabbeinu was the basis for the order of inheritance according to Jewish law. This is discussed in great detail in מסכת בבא בתרא.

A secondary lesson learned from this episode was that Moshe had forgotten these laws, and needed to ask Hashem for a quick refresher course. It was a kind of reprimand to him for his slight bit of boasting. This goes back to when he set up various courts according to Yitro’s advice. It was considered inappropriate for him to exclaim, “And the difficult cases you can bring to me.”

This demonstrates the high moral standards a Jewish leader needs to have. He must have the highest character in order to be a leader in Israel.

Rabbi Twerski pointed out that there are no such expectations of individuals who are known to be outstanding in their respective fields. He wrote that nobody cares about the moral standard or character of a great scientist, mathematician, or geologist. Their expertise is all that matters to people.

Some may feel that it isn’t so significant what people do in their private lives. But there are numerous instances where this proves to be true.

Just as an example, a moral mathematician would never “steal” an idea from a colleague who has made interesting findings in his field. Judaism demands a higher standard based on how high the position one may occupy. This is learned from Moshe Rabbeinu and בנות צלפחד.