influence and power knowing that he's about to die moses turns to god and asks him to appoint a successor

moses said to the lord may the lord god of the spirits of all mankind appoint a man over this community

to go out and come in before them one who will lead them out and bring them in so that the Lord's people will not be like sheep

without a shepherd. It's a far-sighted, selfless gesture. As Rashi comments, this is to tell the

praise of the righteous that when they're about to leave this world, they put aside their personal

needs and become preoccupied with the needs of the community.

Great leaders, think about the long-term future. They're concerned with succession and continuity.

So it was with Moses. God tells Moses to appoint Joshua Ishachir, Ruachbo, a man in whom there is

spirit, and he gives him precise instructions

about how to arrange the succession. Take Joshua, son of nun, a man in whom is the spirit,

and lay your hand upon him. Have him stand before Elozo, the priest and the entire assembly,

and commission him in their presence.

Give some of your authority on him so that the whole Israelite community will obey him.

At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they

will come in.

There are three actions involved here.

Number one, Moses was to lay his hand on Joshua,

and samachta, Yadabalov. Number two, have him stand before El Azad, the priest and the entire

assembly, and number three, give him mehodachah some of your authority. What is the significance of this three-fold process?

What does it tell us about the nature of leadership in Judaism? There is a fascinating midrush

about the first and third of these gestures. And lay your hand upon him, this is like Kamadlik ne'er-miner, like lighting one candle with

another.

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