The Kotzker Rebbe z.l. questions the selection of Yehoshua as successor to Moshe Rabbeinu. Pinchas, the zealot who endangered his life in order to uphold the sanctity of Klal Yisrael, seems to have been overlooked. The position of Kehunah Gedolah is conferred upon Pinchas, but not the role of Klal Yisrael’s leader. Why? The Kotzker Rebbe responds that a kanai, zealot, is not an appropriate choice for leader, since he can not relate equitably to all people. Indeed, the kanai distinguishes himself in his unique temperament. He endangers himself on behalf of Hashem, risking his life to uphold the sanctity of Klal Yisrael. His indomitable devotion to Hashem manifests itself in his aggressive actions to purge any alien tinge of evil which would denigrate kedushas Am Yisrael, the sanctity of our people. A leader must relate to and empathize with his community. A kanai, however, is set apart from his community.
We may advance this idea. The kanai acts alone or, at the most, as a member of a select group of dedicated individuals. The kanai takes notes of a travesty, and he boldly responds spontaneously. He can not tolerate any act of aggression against Hashem, His Torah, or its disseminators. He does not deliberate vacuously while the Torah is being denigrated. One who acts in such a singular individualistic manner will not serve well as a leader whose focus should be on unifying his entire community into one harmonious group. The leadership must work in concert with the community.
