Boundaries Between the Rabbi and the Board
Emor
The story is told of a Rov who was employed by the community but was paid a pittance of a wage. He was so poor that he could not afford candles to use to learn by their light at night, having to conserve the limited supply. Instead he would stay up, straining his eyes to learn in the dark.
At night, the Balabatim of the community saw the dark windows of the Rov’s house and thought that he was going to sleep early. They felt that it was unbecoming of the dignity of their Kehillah. Their Rov should be a Talmid Chochom who is immersed in Torah late into the night. They decided to fire the Rov. (This story happened to a number of Rabbonim, most famously, the Bach - Rabbi Yoel Sirkis, when he served as the Rov in Belz).
When informed of their decision, the Rov explained that a reversal of roles had taken place. The job of the Rov is to look after the spiritual wellbeing of the community and it is the job of the community to provide for the physical needs of the Rov. Here, it is the Rov who must concern himself with the finances of the community and it the community is concerning itself with the spiritual standing of their Rov!
Parshas Emor begins with a discussion of laws of the Kohanim. After discussing the laws pertaining to the regular Kohanim, the Torah lists the unique Mitzvos that apply to the Kohen Gadol.
In the Posuk, the Kohen Gadol is described as הכהן הגדול מאחיו, “the Kohen who is greater than his brothers”. From this wording, our sages learn that the Kohen Gadol must wealthier than the other Kohanim.
If he is not wealthier than them, his fellow Kohanim are obliged to give him from their own wealth until he is wealthier than them as the Posuk requires. This is derived from the Torah’s description of the Kohen Gadol as הכהן הגדול מאחיו, which can also be read as “the Kohen who is great from his brothers”. In the words of the sages; גדלהו משל אחיו, make him greater from his brothers.
In this situation, the Kohen Gadol’s authority and ascent to his position comes from his fellow Kohanim. Nonetheless, once installed, only he is the Kohen Gadol. Only he may enter the Kodesh Hakodoshim and fulfil the Avodah of the Kohen Gadol. A regular Kohen, even if they gave the Kohen Gadol his wealth, is considered a זר and may not enter. The Holy of Holies is not his place.
The Rebbe derives a powerful message from this Gemora that applies in the relationship between a Rov and his community members.
A Rov and Balabatim have different roles and there must be clear delineation of what is the responsibility of the Balabatim and what is the responsibility of the Rov.
A Rov’s job is to be immersed in the Daled Amos of Torah and Tefillah and to lead and instruct the community members in the path of Torah and Halacha.
The Rov of a community may have been elected to the position by the Balabatim of the community. He may have a contract of employment given to him by the governors of the committee. His salary is likely to be paid for by the community as well. His ‘greatness’, like the Kohen Gadol, comes from his brothers - the members of the community.
A Rov should have the strength and authority to issue Piskei Halocha and uphold the laws of the Torah. Like the Kohanim, if the Rov lacks this strength, it is the responsibility of the Balabatim to empower the Rov and bolster his authority so that he can issue Piskei Halocha without compromise.
And like the Kohanim, it is important to remember that whilst the Rov’s authority comes from the community’s empowerment, in his role, he alone is the ‘Kohen Gadol’. When it comes to the ‘Kodesh Hakodoshim’ of issuing Piskei Halocha, it is his jurisdiction alone.
All community members have the responsibility to be involved in strengthening and building the Shule and the community. They should devote themselves to activities of Askanus and Gemilus Chassadim and volunteer to help. But when it comes to a matter of Halacha and Psak, this is an area for the Rov alone.
The Rebbe assures that this is the recipe for a successful and prosperous community, both materially and spiritually.
When the conduct of the Kehillah will be in a manner of גדלהו משל אחיו, the Rov will be able to be a true leader and guide the community in the ways of Torah and Mitzvos. Then they will be deserving of Hashem’s blessings, and all of the Balabatim will be blessed with material prosperity.
~Based on a sicha Yud Beis Tammuz 5718
At night, the Balabatim of the community saw the dark windows of the Rov’s house and thought that he was going to sleep early. They felt that it was unbecoming of the dignity of their Kehillah. Their Rov should be a Talmid Chochom who is immersed in Torah late into the night. They decided to fire the Rov. (This story happened to a number of Rabbonim, most famously, the Bach - Rabbi Yoel Sirkis, when he served as the Rov in Belz).
When informed of their decision, the Rov explained that a reversal of roles had taken place. The job of the Rov is to look after the spiritual wellbeing of the community and it is the job of the community to provide for the physical needs of the Rov. Here, it is the Rov who must concern himself with the finances of the community and it the community is concerning itself with the spiritual standing of their Rov!
Parshas Emor begins with a discussion of laws of the Kohanim. After discussing the laws pertaining to the regular Kohanim, the Torah lists the unique Mitzvos that apply to the Kohen Gadol.
In the Posuk, the Kohen Gadol is described as הכהן הגדול מאחיו, “the Kohen who is greater than his brothers”. From this wording, our sages learn that the Kohen Gadol must wealthier than the other Kohanim.
If he is not wealthier than them, his fellow Kohanim are obliged to give him from their own wealth until he is wealthier than them as the Posuk requires. This is derived from the Torah’s description of the Kohen Gadol as הכהן הגדול מאחיו, which can also be read as “the Kohen who is great from his brothers”. In the words of the sages; גדלהו משל אחיו, make him greater from his brothers.
In this situation, the Kohen Gadol’s authority and ascent to his position comes from his fellow Kohanim. Nonetheless, once installed, only he is the Kohen Gadol. Only he may enter the Kodesh Hakodoshim and fulfil the Avodah of the Kohen Gadol. A regular Kohen, even if they gave the Kohen Gadol his wealth, is considered a זר and may not enter. The Holy of Holies is not his place.
The Rebbe derives a powerful message from this Gemora that applies in the relationship between a Rov and his community members.
A Rov and Balabatim have different roles and there must be clear delineation of what is the responsibility of the Balabatim and what is the responsibility of the Rov.
A Rov’s job is to be immersed in the Daled Amos of Torah and Tefillah and to lead and instruct the community members in the path of Torah and Halacha.
The Rov of a community may have been elected to the position by the Balabatim of the community. He may have a contract of employment given to him by the governors of the committee. His salary is likely to be paid for by the community as well. His ‘greatness’, like the Kohen Gadol, comes from his brothers - the members of the community.
A Rov should have the strength and authority to issue Piskei Halocha and uphold the laws of the Torah. Like the Kohanim, if the Rov lacks this strength, it is the responsibility of the Balabatim to empower the Rov and bolster his authority so that he can issue Piskei Halocha without compromise.
And like the Kohanim, it is important to remember that whilst the Rov’s authority comes from the community’s empowerment, in his role, he alone is the ‘Kohen Gadol’. When it comes to the ‘Kodesh Hakodoshim’ of issuing Piskei Halocha, it is his jurisdiction alone.
All community members have the responsibility to be involved in strengthening and building the Shule and the community. They should devote themselves to activities of Askanus and Gemilus Chassadim and volunteer to help. But when it comes to a matter of Halacha and Psak, this is an area for the Rov alone.
The Rebbe assures that this is the recipe for a successful and prosperous community, both materially and spiritually.
When the conduct of the Kehillah will be in a manner of גדלהו משל אחיו, the Rov will be able to be a true leader and guide the community in the ways of Torah and Mitzvos. Then they will be deserving of Hashem’s blessings, and all of the Balabatim will be blessed with material prosperity.
~Based on a sicha Yud Beis Tammuz 5718