Why do you exalt yourself over the congregation of G-d?

This week's Torah portion, Korach, describes Korach's confrontation with Moses. Korach protested: "The entire nation is holy and G-d is among them. Why do you exalt yourself over the congregation of G-d?" Why did G-d support Moses totally, bringing about a unique miracle to destroy Korach and his following?
To answer this question, we have to focus on two different approaches of leadership. One approach is based on charisma. Such a leader attracts people because he shines; he projects an image of a more exciting future. Korach was rich and he promised the people better stakes. And so, many gullible people ran after him.

Moses was tongue-tied and had trouble communicating. The people found it difficult to understand him. Nevertheless, they knew that Moses spoke G-d's truth. His source of strength was not his personal self, but rather his ability to transcend himself.

The dissonance between the feelings he inspired led to an approach-avoidance conflict. Because Moses didn't promise them glitter, they weren't overly excited about his message. On the other hand, they realized - and were constantly reminded by G-d - that Moses was G-d's messenger. He was only saying what G-d wanted him to say.

What this seems to imply is that Korach is attractive, but Moses is right. So, if I'll choose Moses, it will be with a kind of drab attitude of, "Well, this is what's going to be, so I might as well resign myself to it."

A Moses-style leader is concerned with empowering his followers to discover and fulfill their mission in life. Every person was created with a unique G-d-given purpose. A Moses does not give a person quick answers and ready solutions. Instead, he motivates him to penetrate to the depths of his being and understand G-d's intent for him.

True, this requires a person to look beyond his immediate horizons. He has to think not of what makes him feel good at the moment, but of what is genuinely right and true. That's a lot more challenging, but ultimately a lot more gratifying. For if something is right and true, even though it may require some immediate sacrifice, it will certainly lead to the person's good. Moreover, that good will be continuous, existing not only for the moment, but for the future.

Moses gives people a long-term vision that enables them to live their lives with purpose and joy. Instead of looking for an immediate high, a Moses person thinks about the goals he is living for. And the awareness of that mission endows him with vitality and joy. He is excited about living his daily life because every act he performs resounds with significance; there's genuine value in what he is doing.

In every generation, we can find leaders who are like Korach and those like Moses. Similarly, each one of us can be a Moses or a Korach - for in our homes, in our workplaces, and among our friends - all of us act as leaders at one time or another. When exercising this leadership potential, we should not focus on self-interest - neither our own or that of the people we are trying to impress - but on the higher purposes that are involved. This is what Moses' leadership teaches us.


From Keeping in Touch published by Sichos In English, adapted by Rabbi E. Touger from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe