Parashat Yitro

Beyond Hierarchy: Moses' Vision of an Equal Israel

When Moses takes on the leadership of the People of Israel, he faces the daunting task of managing a nation of over 600,000 people. Despite his upbringing in Pharaoh's palace, where he gained insight into statecraft, Moses did not initially implement an efficient judicial system. Instead, he takes it upon himself to personally judge every case and answer every halakhic question. 

This approach is neither practical nor sustainable, and even Moses himself is worn out by the constant demands. This leads his father-in-law, Yitro, to offer advice, suggesting that a hierarchical system of judges be established to delegate responsibilities and make the governance more manageable. However, the need for this counsel raises a question: why did Moses, despite his experience and the clear impracticality of his approach, not establish such a system earlier?

The essence of Moses’ reluctance to create a hierarchy lies in his belief in the equality of all Jews. He envisioned a system where every individual could approach him directly, free from any sense of inferiority or class distinction. Moses’ perspective was rooted in the spiritual equality of the Jewish people. He believed that all Jews should aspire to the highest level of connection with God, receiving the Torah directly, as he himself had done. This principle is evident in Moses’ desire for the entire nation to experience prophecy, not just a select few.

When Joshua runs to tell him that Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp. Moses responds, “Would that all of God’s people were prophets” (Num. 11:29) In his view, any system that introduced ranks and separated the people into different tiers would undermine the fundamental equality of Israel, a value enshrined in the Torah. The vision of Moses was not one of a hierarchical society, but one in which every individual is seen as having equal potential for spiritual and intellectual greatness.

However, as practical as Moses' vision may have been, reality dictated otherwise. The logistical demands of ruling a nation, especially one as large as Israel, made it clear that a more structured system was necessary for effective governance. Yitro's counsel, while appearing to introduce a system of hierarchy, was a practical solution to the problem of managing a vast and diverse population. Yet even after this system was implemented, Moses' original ideal—that no one should be excluded from approaching the leadership directly—remained the underlying value. 

The Torah emphasizes that every individual, regardless of status, can engage with Torah and seek answers to their questions. This principle of accessibility and equality, though not fully realized in practice, remains at the heart of the Jewish worldview, highlighting the importance of spiritual and intellectual.

Questions to Contemplate

In what areas of society or work might we struggle with the tension between maintaining accessibility and implementing necessary hierarchy?

How can we ensure that every voice is heard and valued, even in a world where some are given more authority or expertise than others? When is it important to do so and when is it not? How can one know the difference?