Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him. (13:19)

Simply translated, Moshe Rabbeinu fulfilled Yosef's request that he be buried in Eretz Yisrael. While the rest of Klal Yisrael was preoccupied with fulfilling Hashem's command to request and obtain valuable gold and silver utensils from the Egyptians, Moshe was busy locating and returning Yosef's coffin. The Megaleh Amukos suggests a homiletic approach towards understanding this pasuk. Moshe took along with him the atzmiyus, which is a play on the word atzmos, bones - or essence or essential character - of Yosef. What was Yosef's greatest strength? Wherein lay that quality that Moshe, as he was about to assume the reins of leadership over the nascent Jewish people, wanted to emulate? It was Yosef's ability to forgive and forget, to overlook and let bygones be bygones. His brothers had sold him into slavery, an ordeal which had transformed his life, as it separated him from his father for years. Yet, he harbored no animus, only demonstrating love and forgiveness towards his brothers. He went out of his way to sustain them, to support them when they came to Egypt. Moshe "took" all of this and incorporated it into his psyche, as he led the people through their forty-year journey in the wilderness. With calm and patience he tolerated their complaints and criticism, their ingratitude and pettiness. He never "lost it" with them, always responding with a smile. Moshe took "Yosef" with him out of Egypt.

Leadership requires patience borne of love and tolerance, which is the manifestation of sensitivity and caring. This contrasts patience and tolerance which are manipulated in accordance with the winds of politics. While many Torah leaders demonstrate these qualities, Horav Shlomo Halberstam, zl, the Bobover Rebbe, was the embodiment of love for all Jews. He effusively manifested this fatherly love in a manner that lay the groundwork for his outstanding success in rebuilding Bobover chassidus in this country and throughout the world, following the horrors and destruction of World War II. When one entered the Rebbe's office to pour out his heart or to share with him news of an upcoming simchah, the reaction often paralleled that of the petitioner. When he listened to a tale of woe, he would cry as if he was - and he was! - totally immersed in the pain of the supplicant. Moments later he could be embracing a young man who was finally blessed with a child, the Rebbe's joy was equal to that of the new father. He was a Rebbe, but he acted as a loving father.

In his "Warmed by their Fire," Rabbi Yisrael Besser very poignantly describes the Bobover's fatherly love, his tolerance and patience with all. Once, a chasid entered and told the Rebbe that he had just been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. The Rebbe arose from his chair, embraced the man and held him tight. Then, suddenly, he began to weep profusely. The sobbing of the Rebbe and the petitioner could be heard from outside the room. After a few moments, the Rebbe called his aide to bring another handkerchief. His was already soaked.

The tears were not yet dry when a young chasid entered with his three-year-old son who was there for his upsherin, first haircut. The rebbe's countenance changed drastically, as he now embraced the little boy and prepared to imbue this joyful occasion with the majesty and warmth of accompanying a child through another milestone of tradition.

The Rebbe acted this way towards all Jews. Once, during the wedding of one of his grandchildren, he entered his room to rest for a few minutes, so exhausted was he from the joyous dancing. Someone who was not a Bobover chasid entered the room during a time that was really inappropriate. Just next door, thousands of chassidim were waiting for the Rebbe to return and honor them with his presence. The young man wanted to take advantage of this auspicious occasion, during the Rebbe's elevated state of joy, to ask for a brachah, blessing. He was very ill and in great need of blessing. After the man described the seriousness of his condition, the Rebbe replied, "Come, let us say Tehillim together!" Everyone was waiting outside; the crowd was becoming edgy, but the Rebbe was transported to a different world - a world of Tehillim and tears for another Jew. After they concluded the Tehillim, the Rebbe said, "Come let us give tzedakah, charity, together." They did, and the young man walked out hand-in-hand with the Rebbe.

The Rebbe carried the burden of thousands of Jews; he, likewise, rejoiced in the simchos of the many who enjoyed joyous occasions. After all, he was their father. He could look at a room filled with thousands of chassidim and note a detail about one person. Once, at the height of simchah, as thousands of chassidim danced in a throng before him, he noticed an elderly chasid in front of him. The Rebbe immediately called over a young boy and said, "Do me a favor. Go stand between that elderly man and the tall fellow in front of him. This way, he will not have to stretch out his arms that much."

The Rebbe felt the pain of the Ribbono Shel Olam. The chair in which he had sat for hours and hours wore out, and it was time for a new one. The Rebbe refused, "We must repair this one." "It does not pas, it is unbecoming, for the Rebbe to sit in such a chair," his gabbai, aide, said. The Rebbe disagreed - and this is what strikes me the most about him - asserting, "Chazal teach us that as long as Amalek is around, obstructing Hashem's complete dominion over the world, Hashem's Throne, His chair, is incomplete. It is lacking perfection. Hashem's chair is not whole, and mine should be?" This defines a true leader.