Numbers are an interesting thing. Time has a way of quietly slipping by. Just this week, a repairman came to fix a system that felt like it had been installed yesterday, only to realize it has already been five years. We moved to Fort Lauderdale 20 years ago, and somehow that feels impossible. Now America is preparing to celebrate 250 years, which, for a nation, is still remarkably young. It has made me reflect on what it truly means to live in America. We have been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and freedoms, but perhaps what makes us most proud is not simply the years we celebrate. It is the values of this country that inspire us to build something greater than ourselves.
This week's Torah portion, Pinchas, offers a beautiful glimpse into Moshe's remarkable leadership. As he learns that his life is coming to an end, he does not ask for honor, recognition, or even for his own family. His only request is that Hashem appoint the right person to lead the Jewish people after him. Even in his final moments, his focus remains on the future of the nation he has devoted his life to. Moshe teaches us that true leadership is not about ourselves. It is about faithfully carrying a mission that is greater than any one individual.
Most of us will never lead a nation, but every one of us leads somewhere. As parents, educators, friends, and community members, we have daily opportunities to choose purpose over personal comfort and to put the needs of others before our own. When we align our lives with Hashem's vision of bringing more goodness, kindness, and holiness into the world, we become the kind of leaders whose influence reaches far beyond ourselves.