| "And HaShem said to Moshe, 'You shall bestow some of your splendor upon Yehoshua'" (BaMidbar 27:20). This verse implies that Moshe Rabbeinu transferred a portion of his spiritual radiance to Yehoshua. Reflecting on this, the Sages declared: “The face of Moshe was like the sun, and the face of Yehoshua was like the moon. Woe to that shame! Woe to that embarrassment!”
But this raises a question: Yehoshua reached an extraordinary level of greatness and prophecy. Why, then, is his spiritual stature considered a cause for "shame and embarrassment"? The answer lies in who was feeling that shame. It was not Yehoshua who was lacking—it was the Elders of that generation who spoke those words. They had grown up with Yehoshua, been his peers from youth. Yet only Yehoshua seized the spiritual opportunities that HaShem offered. He alone pursued constant growth, refining his character, deepening his Torah learning, and dedicating himself fully to Moshe’s teachings.
When the Elders beheld Yehoshua’s radiant spiritual stature—his moon-like glow that reflected Moshe’s sun—they were struck with a profound sense of personal failure. They realized that they too had the potential to grow, but had not taken full advantage of it. Their words, “Woe to that shame!” were a confession of their own missed opportunity.
Every individual is given the potential to achieve greatness. True spiritual success is not determined by innate brilliance or natural gifts, but by effort, perseverance, and self-motivation. A person must recognize that their spiritual development is in their own hands. No one can grow for them. The key is self-awareness and the inner drive to improve day by day.
Picture Yehoshua as a young boy, playing with his friends—no different from anyone else. Yet even then, he chose a different path. He took it upon himself to set up benches each day in the Beis Midrash, to remain close to Moshe, to listen, to absorb, to serve. He became the student who never left his teacher’s side.
Today: Follow Yehoshua’s example. Take initiative. Use your time well. Every moment is a new opportunity to grow in Torah, mitzvot, and middos. Greatness is not inherited—it is earned, step by step. (Based on the commentary of the Chofetz Chaim on the Torah)
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