Out of all his impressive achievements, Moshe, who against impossible odds, led the Israelites out of Egypt, and successfully brought them to the border of Eretz Yisrael, is called “Moshe Rabbeinu,” Moshe our teacher. Not Moshe our leader, or Moshe our emancipator. Instead, he is Moshe our teacher.
Why is that? Teachers teach and convey lessons. So what life-enhancing lesson did Moshe impart?
How not to be pompous and full of yourself.
Moshe was raised as a prince in the palace of the Pharoah, the ruler of Egypt. His biological parents were Amram and Yocheved, descendants of Levi. Amram was a gadol. A leader of the Bnei Yisrael who had the power to decree that the men of the nation divorce their wives!
And Moshe was chosen by Hashem to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. He would have had every right to consider himself a superior human being and a know-it-all. Yet he was modest and self-deprecating.
He was even open to his father-in-law’s advice to delegate judging disputes, instead of acting like he could do it all.
So many businesses and fortunes have been lost because of the arrogance and pride of the owners, refusing to listen to expert financial and legal advice.
Moshe was an educator in how to be a mensch. Sadly, this crucial lesson is lost on many.
