A true Jewish leader

Pinchas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My anger away from the people of Israel, while he was zealous for My sake among them (Num. 25:11)
In enumerating Pinchas' praise, the first thing the Torah mentions is that he acted "among them." In Judaism, true zealousness for G-d does not mean withdrawing from society and becoming a recluse, but expressing it on the communal level.


(Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz)

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And G-d said...take the sum of all the congregation of the Children of Israel from twenty years and upward (Num. 26:1,2)

The Midrash explains that the Jewish people are counted in nine places in Scripture; the tenth and final census will be taken in the Messianic Era. This will be done either by Moshiach, according to the Aramaic translation and commentary of Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel, or by G-d Himself, according to the Midrash.


(The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Shabbat Parshat Chukat 5750)

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Who may go out before them, and who may go in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in (Num. 27:17)

A true Jewish leader is one who does not alter his opinions according to popular demand. Only a leader of such stature has the power to "lead the Jewish people out" of all difficulties, and "bring them in" to the realm of holiness.


(Even HaEzel)