Parashat Beha’alotecha

By Rabbi Shlomo Zargari

Shalom, we learn a pasuk in the parasha:
לֹֽא־אוּכַ֤ל אָנֹכִי֙ לְבַדִּ֔י לָשֵׂ֖את אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֥י כָבֵ֖ד מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
I cannot carry all the people by myself, for it is too much for me.
(Beha’alotecha 11,14)

Moshe is begging for help from HaShem and HaShem tells him to gather the seventy elders who will assist him in the leadership in front of the אוהל מועד.

וְיָרַדְתִּ֗י וְדִבַּרְתִּ֣י עִמְּךָ֮ שָׁם֒ וְאָצַלְתִּ֗י מִן־הָר֛וּחַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְנָשְׂא֤וּ אִתְּךָ֙ בְּמַשָּׂ֣א הָעָ֔ם וְלֹא־תִשָּׂ֥א אַתָּ֖ה לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃

I will come down and speak with you there, and I will draw upon the spirit that is on you and put it upon them; they shall share the burden of the people with you, and you shall not bear it alone.

Rashi explains that Moshe was compared to a candle; even if you light many other candles from a single candle, the flame will not be diminished. The question to be asked is, “Why did HaShem use Moshe as a conduit and not directly give prophecy to the seventy elders?” The משגיח Harav Shlomo Wolbe זצ״ל answers that the Torah has to be transmitted from a Rebbi to a student. By learning and observing, the students will grow based on the righteousness of the master. It is extremely important for everyone to develop such connections for growth in Torah, and thereby spirituality.

Shabbat Shalom