ON PARENTS AND TEACHERS By Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Just beneath the surface of this week’s Parshah is an exceptionally poignant story. It occurs in the context of Moses’ prayer that G‑d appoint a successor as leader of the Jewish people. One hint is given in the words of G‑d to Moses: “After you have seen it, you also will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was.” Rashi is intrigued by the apparently superfluous word “also,” and makes the comment that “Moses desired to die as Aaron had died.” In what sense was Moses envious of his brother? Was it that he, like Aaron, wished to die painlessly? Surely not. Moses was not afraid of pain. Was it that he envied his brother’s popularity? Of Aaron it was said that when he died, he was mourned by “all the children of Israel,” something the Torah does not say in the case of Moses. This, too, cannot be the answer. Moses knew that leadership does not mean popularity. He did not seek it. He could not have done what he had to do and achieve it.