His eyes had not dimmed, and his vigor had not been diminished. (34:7)
Moshe Rabbeinu was the consummate ish Elokim, a human being who possessed human qualities -- character, empathy, compassion, etc.-- yet was a man of G-d who was bound up totally in the Heavenly sphere. As such, despite being “housed” in a human form, Moshe’s neshamah was his ikar, primary essence and identity. This, explains Horav Dovid Povarsky, zl, is why his makom kevurah, burial site, could not be located. As a neshamah, spiritual entity, burial in a specific place was not a reality. His “burial” was of a spiritual nature. [Concepts that deal with spirituality are difficult to comprehend with the limitations of a mortal mind and perspective.]
On the other hand, Moshe’s humanness was evident in his manner of leadership. Thus, he served as a model for all future leaders to (attempt to) emulate. In describing Moshe’s transcending the physical aging process and its effect on the human body, the Torah selects two qualities that did not affect Moshe: Lo kohasah eino, v’lo nass leicho, “His eye had not dimmed, and his vigor had not diminished.” He remained fresh physically. The aging process, which affects all human beings, had no effect on him. One would expect the Torah’s description of Moshe’s ability to avoid the frailty of aging to be more along the lines of his leadership qualities, his ability to run and guide the nation as if he were a young man. When we describe the qualities of a ninety-year old CEO who is still putting in a full day, we address his acuity and physical stamina – not his eyesight and vigor.
Horav Meir Shapiro, zl, explains it happens more often than we care to admit that, when one ascends to the position of leadership, he turns away his eyes (he ignores) from the ignominious behavior of his close friends and (even) family. He “swallows” reports of impropriety attributed to members of his inner circle. Moshe neither turned a “dim eye” to anything that had occurred to anyone close to him, nor tolerated questionable behavior.
Moshe Rabbeinu, the greatest leader Klal Yisrael has ever known, embodied the perfect blend of compassion coupled with unyielding truth. He loved Klal Yisrael and viewed their challenges and problems as his own, bearing their burdens with his signature humility. Nonetheless, it is important to emphasize that his humility was not born of weakness; his patience was not the result of passivity. He was a leader who cowered before no one. He did not gloss over faults, and he confronted evil head on – not out of anger, but out of a sense of justice.
Moshe did not confuse love with approval (as many of us do as parents). He did not brook compromise, excuses, or mediocrity. He held Klal Yisrael to a higher standard, because they were the Am Hashem. He set the model for leadership. He sought truth – not popularity; he demanded pride – not obsequiousness; he expected excellence -- not adequacy. This is the legacy that he bequeathed to us.
