In this week’s parshah, Moshe Rabbeinu asks Hashem to provide Am Yisrael with a leader who will “go out before them and enter before them,” a genuine leader who will guide the people forward and direct them.
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter notes that one of the features of the period right before Moshiach arrives will be (as the Gemara states), “Pnei hador ke’pnei hakelev.” This refers to the leaders of the generation who can be compared to a dog on its master’s leash. When a person goes to walk his dog, the dog can usually be observed pulling ahead, its owner following along. However, every so often, the dog turns around to make sure he’s going where his master wants him to go.
At the End of Days, the “leaders” will be at the front, “going out before the people” and guiding them. But in truth, they’ll be constantly checking behind to make sure that the “guidance” they’re giving is what the people want to hear. They won’t be willing to risk their popularity by giving true guidance and providing genuine leadership.
When a person asks a rav a she’ilah and makes it quite obvious that he only wants a certain answer, the rav should give him the right answer regardless of how happy it makes the questioner. But a genuine questioner will make it obvious that he wants only the truth, and true Torah guidance, and this will provide a rav with the encouragement and strength to answer appropriately. Those who seek the truth are clear about their willingness to be led; they’re not just trying to make it appear that they’re following.
The same can be said in the relationship between a woman and her husband. The Torah teaches that the husband is the king and his wife, queen. Even if the husband is not a “natural ruler,” his wife can transform him into her king simply by being a loyal queen, true to her role and position in the home.
