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GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbi Yosef Carmel

The Politics of

Spiritual Leadership

ur matriarch Sarah’s name,
ה ָ ר ָ ׂש (literally a female offi-
Ocer), hints she was far more
than an excellent wife and mother.
She was a leader in her own right. The
other name attributed to her, הָּֽ כ ְ סִי (see
Bereishit 11:29 with Rashi), may also
be connected to the word ה ָ כי ִ סְנ (prin-
cess). However, let us focus on a differ-
ent type of position of power, as seen
in the haftarah of Chayei Sarah.
While we are familiar with the title
kohen, we might not be aware of its
implication of authority. Indeed, the
verse that says “the sons of David were
kohanim” (Shmuel II:8:18) refers to
positions of power, as they were not
descendants of Aharon. Chagit’s oldest son. Nevertheless, have acted with humility and waited
Batsheva held David to his promise for David to decide who would suc-
Actually, the kohanim in the Beit that her son Shlomo would ascend ceed him, after consultation with the
HaMikdash had authority, all the more to the crown. Two Kohanim Gedo- prophet. Evyatar’s involvement in this
so the Kohen Gadol, who was in charge lim who shared the post arose on the political maneuvering is an example of
of a huge operation in the Temple. two sides of this dispute. Tzadok, who an improper attempt to decide matters
While this included great spiritual represented the house of Aharon’s son and perhaps also an attempt to ensure
responsibility, it also included con- Elazar, stood behind Shlomo, whereas his position of power under the new
trol over a tremendous budget, which Evyatar, who represented the house regime. Tzadok, in contrast, did not
was independent of the king’s control of Itamar, threw his support behind take a stand but brought the matter to
and had a built-in system for raising Adoniya. At the end of the process, David to decide, only after which did
funds. The Kohen Gadol was also in Evyatar and his family were banished he add his blessing to the decision.
charge of a limited judicial system, to their village of Anatot and removed
known as beit din shel kohanim (see from prominence (Melachim I:2:26), The prophets, while also holy people
Mishna Ketubot 1:5). At times, this and Tzadok became the sole leader of like the kohanim, did have a role
system led to severe corruption, such the tribe. that made it appropriate for them to
as at the time of the sons of Eli or of become involved in political matters.
the bribe-paying candidates for the job Why was Tzadok’s involvement in the After all, their job was not to deter-
during Second Temple times. dispute deemed proper while Evyatar’s mine halachic policy for the genera-
was not? What was wrong with sup- tions but to educate the people as to
In our haftarah, we are witness to porting Adoniya? From these verses, what to do in the present, which might
a power struggle of a different kind perhaps we can learn when it is right include “political” steps.
between two prominent kohanim.
for religious leaders to get involved in Rabbi Yosef Carmel was born in Jerusa-
Toward the end of David’s reign, it political debate. Adoniya is described lem in 1953. He is the Rabbinical Dean of
was clear to most citizens that his as approaching Evyatar, who agreed to the Eretz Hemdah Institute for Advanced
successor would be Adoniya, his wife support him (ibid. 7). Adoniya should Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.

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