No get out of jail card TB Sotah 13

 Today’s daf TB Sotah 13 continues the theme of measure for measure. The Gemara explains for burying Jacob, Joseph merits Moses burying him. When all the rest of the Israelites were plundering the Egyptians for back wages, Moses went to find Joseph’s burying place so that he would fulfill the oath that Joseph made the children of Israel swear to take his bones from Egypt and bury him in the land of Israel. “The Gemara asks: And from where did Moses our teacher know where Joseph was buried? The Sages said: Serah, the daughter of Asher, remained from that generation that initially descended to Egypt with Jacob. Moses went to her and said to her: Do you know anything about where Joseph is buried? She said to him: The Egyptians fashioned a metal casket for him and set it in the Nile [Nilus] River as an augury so that its water would be blessed. Moses went and stood on the bank of the Nile. He said to Joseph: Joseph, Joseph, the time has arrived about which the Holy One, Blessed be He, took an oath saying that I, i.e., God, will redeem you. And the time for fulfillment of the oath that you administered to the Jewish people that they will bury you in Eretz Yisrael has arrived. If you show yourself, it is good, but if not, we are clear from your oath. Immediately, the casket of Joseph floated to the top of the water.” (Sefaria.org translation) because Moses was faithful to redeem Joseph’s oath, merits the Holy One burying him. “§ The mishna teaches: Who, to us, had a greater burial than Moses, as no one involved himself in his burial other than the Omnipresent Himself.” (Sefaria.org translation)

As you might know, Moses pleaded with God again and again to allow him to enter the land of Israel with the rest of the Israelites only to be refused. The Gemara gives one reason why Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land. “God’s telling Moses “rav lakh” was intended to mean: You have a rav, i.e., God, Who says that you may not enter Eretz Yisrael. You must not importune Me anymore, so that people should not say: How difficult is the Master and how obstinate is the student. The Gemara asks: And why was Moses punished so much in that he was not allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael, despite being so righteous? The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught that the reason is based on the common aphorism: Based on the camel is the burden. In other words, a person is judged in accordance with his stature, and therefore a righteous individual will be punished greatly due to any sins he committed.” (Sefaria.org translation) When the Israelites thirsted for water and God instructed Moses to speak to the rock, Moses disobeyed and struck it. (See numbers 20:11-12) For that disobedience, God decreed he should not enter the land of Israel.

Whether this was a fair punishment or not can be debated. Nevertheless, we learn from this story that God expects more from our leaders. They are held to a higher standard. We should too. We expect our president not to commit crimes whether they concern his business practice or breaking federal law. We expect our clergy not to commit crimes whether they embezzle money or sexually abuse children. Because they are in positions of power, they are role models. When they abuse their position, the full extent of the law should be applied to them. They get no “get out of jail” card.