One of the more poignant descriptive texts of the Torah appears in this week's parasha regarding Moses: "The man Moses was very humble, more so than any other human being on the face of the earth." In response to Aaron and Miriam's gossiping about their younger brother, God chastised them for acting against him in such a way with the response quoted above. God makes a point to recognize that humility is a characteristic of the genuine leader, while gossip and slander are acts of hubris in an effort to make one's self look better in comparison to the other. Even Moses, arguably the most powerful and influential figure in all of Israelite and Jewish history did not allow himself to get overcome with a sense of power and control over others. Instead, he wielded power over himself and his actions, putting the needs of God, other individuals, and the entire people of Israel first. In short he led with humble service, not authority.