Leader Strong or Sensitive?

 The Torah describes how Moshe reacted to being told he would soon die. He thought that meant that Pinchas would be the new leader. But since Pinchas was a zealot he would not be a good leader. G-d reacted to his request to appoint a new leader that he should choose Yehoshua and appoint him publically and also put some of his own power into Yehoshua.  This serves as the basis for a fundamental dispute as to what a true leader should be. Moshe was afraid of an inflexible leader who demanded the same of everyone. The gemora indicates that Yehoshua was merely a reflection of Moshe. This understood as saying Yehoshua related differently to others and in fact was a weak leader as condemned by the Sages of that generation. Others say that the metaphor of the moon was that he didn’t develop his own approach and did not grow greater than what Moshe gave him and this is why he was condemned.  Others say that the new generation needed a weaker leader than Moshe. We see that the idea of a sensitive leader versus a strong harsh one is an old unresolved debate.

Bamidbar (27:15-21) 15. And Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, 16. Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17. Who may go out before them, and who may go in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd. 18. And the Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is spirit, and lay your hand upon him; 19. And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20. And you shall put some of your honor upon him, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may be obedient. 21. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him according to the judgment of Urim before the Lord; at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the people of Israel with him, all the congregation.

Bava Basra (75a) And thou shalt put of thy honour upon him but not all thy honour. The elders of that generation said: The countenance of Moses was like that of the sun; the countenance of Joshua was like that of the moon. Alas, for such shame! Alas for such reproach!