In our parsha (8:6), Moshe is instructed to “take the Leviim (Levites)….” Rashi notes—as he does in several other places—that when the Torah speaks about “taking” a person it is not speaking of a physical movement of that person but of persuasion, “taking him with words,” k’chenu b’dvarim. In this case, for example, Moshe needed to inspire the Leviim by conveying how fortunate they were to have been chosen for their holy task.
Maharal of Prague explains this approach of Rashi by noting that the essence of a person is his or her mind, da’as. As such, simply having someone use their power or any external force to physically move the other from one place, position, location or association to another, would not truly constitute “taking” them. While that works for objects, people are only truly “moved” when we win over their hearts and minds and change how they view and feel about something. In our efforts to impact others we do not exert true influence by using our power to force external change. We must instead figure out how to get under their skin, using genuine understanding to influence the way they think about things. This approach is critical to our success in educating our children, students, congregants and community.
It may, however, be no less critical in our encounter with the world around us.
Antisemitism is the longest hatred, and we cannot naively believe that we will rid the world of it. Instead, we must work diligently to defend ourselves against it and seek alliances and support amongst those who stand up for us and against this terrible evil. Thank God, we are blessed with many such allies in this battle, and we are grateful to them. But our efforts must not be limited to the transactional, moving the pieces in political negotiation to our advantage. We must never despair of being worthy of the ultimate and elusive prophetic vision for the world, where the Jewish people are truly seen as a source of blessing for everyone. As a people we must aspire to move and to influence people with our words, ideas and values in pursuit of our ultimate aspiration of winning the hearts and minds of the world—until the day that (Yeshayahu 60:3) “nations shall walk by your light and kings by your shining radiance.”
Rabbi Moshe Hauer is executive vice president of the Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization.
