Some one asks, “Do we need to take the kitbags?” And right away you can hear the sad wah wah wah trombone effect. She’elat kitbag, kitbag question, is a Hebrew slang term referring to a question that is better not asked. It is usually directed to a person of authority. The person asking the question and often everyone else are likely to be negatively affected by the very act of asking the question. In short, asking the question means that you will have to schlep the kitbag.

The expression originates in an anecdote often told to new conscripts in the Israel Defense Forces; according to the apocryphal story, soldiers had been commanded by their superiors to assemble for a loaded march with their weapons and ammunition vests. One soldier asked whether they should also bring their kitbags. The reply was “good idea, bring the kitbag as well”, to everyone else’s annoyance. For if he had not asked, the commanders would never have thought to require bringing the kitbag. She’elat kitbag can also occur in non-military contexts.

I was thinking about this when reading Lech Lecha, this week’s Torah portion. Here we see see the advent of the Jewish leadership. The Midrash is dealing with the question as to how did Avram ( O.G. Avraham) discover God and launch this venture called monotheism. There we read:

“The Lord said to Abram: Go you, from your land, and from your birthplace, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1)… Rabbi Yitzḥak said: This is analogous to one who was passing from place to place, and saw a building in flames. He said: ‘Is it possible that this building has no one in charge of it?’ The owner of the building peeks out at him and said: ‘I am the owner of the building.’ So, because Abraham our patriarch was saying: ‘Is it possible that this world is without someone in charge?’ The Holy One blessed be God looked at him and said to him: ‘I am the owner of the world.’“The king will desire your beauty, as he is your master” (Psalms 45:12) – to show your beauty in the world. “And bow to him” (Psalms 45:12) – that is, “the Lord said to Abram.” (Bereshit Rabbah 39:1)

Avram asks who is in charge and God answers that God is the owner. Yes, God is the King, Creator and the Owner, but who is responsible for it? This question is never answered. Well, the implication is that his question in the Midrash is answered in the Torah. This is story explaining Avram’s call to leadership, Lech Lecha. This is the original She’elat kitbag.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel famously said, “In a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.” The mantle of leadership falls to those who perceive the responsibility. Avram noticed something was wrong and asked who was in charge. And now for the rest of history we, as Jews, need to schlep that bag of leadership.