The Quest for a Truly Selfless Act

The Vilna Gaon was always careful to fulfill the mitzvah of lulav and Etrog on Sukkot, even when it was difficult to obtain those ritual items. One year, there was only one set of lulav and Etrog in all of Vilna, and the Vilna Gaon was committed to fulfilling the mitzvah at all costs. He asked the rich man if he could buy the set from him. The man said, “I will sell you my set on one condition. You agree to give me all of the reward that you accumulate due to the fulfillment of this mitzvah.” Instead of being upset or hesitant, the Vilna Gaon was ecstatic. He said, “All my life I’ve looked forward to being able to fulfill a mitzvah without the expectation of a reward. Finally now I have the chance to do a mitzvah purely for the sake of serving Hashem, ie 100% leshem shamayim.” Philosophers have debated whether it is possible for a person to commit a purely selfless act. Some suggest that if the active person does not benefit to the same degree as the beneficiary, then we should consider it a selfless act. Others suggest that since the active person gains something- a sense of satisfaction or pleasure in doing a good deed- then it doesn’t really count as a purely selfless act. Personally I don’t think we should be so strict on defining selflessness. Any time a person thinks about the other person more than him/herself I believe we can consider that to be a selfless moment. In this week’s Parsha, Moshe asks Hashem to appoint a leader who will lead the Jewish People into Israel after Moshe’s. Moshe describes the qualities that he believes are most important in his successor (27:17) “Let Hashem, Source of the breath of all flesh, appoint someone over the community who shall go out before them and come in before them, and who shall take them out and bring them in, so that Hashem’s community may not be like sheep - that they have no shepherd.” The Magid of Vilna wonders why the Torah didn’t just say “like sheep without a shepherd”. Why does the verse add the phrase “that they have no shepherd.” The Magid explained that the care that most shepherds provide for the flocks is based on self-interest. If the shepherd owns the sheep, then he wants to make sure that they are as healthy and valuable as possible. If the shepherd works for someone then he cares for the sheep so that he will be kept on in his job, or provided a bonus, or referred for another shepherd job in the future. It is the rare shepherd that actually cares for the sheep themselves. Moshe asks God to provide a successor that leads the Jews in a similarly selfless manner. Leadership can come with perks. Leaders might enjoy those perks and not be completely focused on their followers. A true Jewish leader, one that makes Moshe proud, is the one that is able to lead selflessly; for the benefit of the followers and even if it comes at the expense of the leader.