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https://www.mogen-david.org/event/membership-year-5785.html

A short beautiful idea on Behalotecha, 
to uplift and to be shared on your Shabbat table with Friends and family. 

What’s so special about our generation?
Moshe is the greatest Anav 
Did he write that about himself? 
Shabbat Shalom!

https://youtu.be/94-g-9zyBpE?si=9qPSK56JHoiFvNG6

Dear Mogen David Family,

Parashat Behalotcha is a kind of rollercoaster in terms of the historical events of the Jewish people. On the one hand we find Moshe excitedly inviting Yitro to accompany Bnei Yisrael, as "nos’im anachnu - we are going" (Bemidbar 10:29) - one can sense the enthusiasm, and even Moshe is planning to enter the Promised Land. Immediately after the two pesukim bounded by the inverted nuns, Jewish history becomes inverted and a rapid decline begins, with the nation bemoaning and mourning its plight. This is followed by the sending of the spies, and the rest is tragic history. What is especially uncharacteristic is the role of Moshe in the backsliding of the people. Moshe throws his hands up in desperation and frustration and responds to their complaints: "Help Me", cries Moshe, "if not, please kill me and put an end to my misery." In contrast, when the Jewish people worshiped the Golden Calf, Moshe rose to the occasion and defended their idolatrous behavior. Moshe reminded Hashem where they were for two hundred and ten years, and despite the open miracles they saw and experienced, their being steeped in Egyptian culture, could explain and defend their sin. Moshe had all the necessary patience and tolerance for His people. Yet here, by kivrot haTaavah, the same Moshe asks, "Am I their nursemaid?" (Bemidbar 11:12).

Rav Soloveitchik suggested that Moshe did not realize that teaching middot tovot, developing their character, and shapingtheir personality to make them worthy of absorbing and accepting Hashem's Torah was incumbent upon him as well. Moshe, to his surprise, was in fact now elevated to the position of omain - nursemaid and molder of character to this nation. By proclaiming "did I give birth to this nation?" Moshe was saying, "You, Hashem, created them with the genes implanted within them, and there is nothing I can do to change their nature", and hence Moshe's feeling of desperation and total inadequacy. Hashem, however, instructs him otherwise! Moshe now realizes that he also has to be a "middot machine" to them. "Gedola shimusha yoter milimuda - attending and serving one's teacher is even greater than studying Torah under him" (Berachot 7b), as one learns refinement of character from his teachers’ every day acts. Moshe now gained an additional understanding of the passuk, "Moshe descended from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people" (Shemot 19:14). Polishing and attending to their middot as well as what, how, when and with whom they eat are all the rebbe's concern. May we ever be inspired by Moshe Rabbeinu, and be cognizant not only of our responsibility to teach midot  to those around us, but even more importantly to demonstrate derech eretz kadma le’torah.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yehuda Moses Rav HaKehillah/Senior Rabbi