A Leader for the Congregation: A Look at the Transfer of Leadership from Moses to Joshua
Date:
Sunday (in 46 days)
October 11 at 9:00 in the morning – October 15 at 12:00 noon
© Makore Events 2025
A series exploring the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua and the different models of leadership they represent. During the sessions, biblical stories will be read, and the tensions and human dynamics between the leader and his successor will be examined. The Sages’ perspectives on changes of power and their influence on modern thinkers will also be discussed.
Who is a worthy leader? What background does he need? What mission lies before him, and how does one cope with the transfer of leadership from the hands of the greatest of leaders?
In this series, we will examine the moments when authority was transferred from Moses to Joshua, and explore the inherent tensions and human dynamics reflected in the biblical reality, from the Five Books of Moses through the beginning of the Book of Joshua. We will read the familiar biblical stories—from the War against Amalek and the episode of the spies to Moses’ and Joshua’s final speeches—and uncover lesser-known aspects of their characters. We will examine the complex relationship between Moses and his successor, and learn about the different models of leadership they represent.
Alongside our reading of the Scriptures, we will examine how the sages addressed the transfer of power between Moses and Joshua, comparing Babylonian Talmudic literature, which sometimes diminishes the successor’s stature, with the Land of Israel’s midrashic literature, which elevates it. We will also explore the influence of this comparison on modern thinkers and on their conceptions of leadership and the people.
Dr. Miri Schlessel teaches Bible. She founded and managed a six-year high school in Jerusalem and served as Director of the Bible Subject Area and Chair of the Pedagogical Secretariat at the Ministry of Education.
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