Mina's Musings: Pinchas 2015

Faith and Knowing God As Highest Authority

On Wednesday the Board had its monthly meeting.  One of the business items was the distribution of the monies the board collects each month when it sends the tzedakkah box around the table.  We had just about $360 to distribute.  Normally the Board sends its money to Jewish organizations.  And indeed we decided to send half to Mazon, a Jewish organization committed to ending hunger.  But at the recommendation of a board member the group decided to send the other half to the Malala Fund, an organization devoted to empowering women around the world through education. I do not believe it is a coincidence that we decided to send money to that organization this week.  You see, the desire to empower women and help them receive equal rights has a long history, dating all the way back to this morning’s Torah portion and a group of young women who, like Malala, did not stand for the status quo, and didn’t mind shaking things up.

Let me review with you.  After a plague has been loosed upon the Israelites as punishment for an act of idolatry, the portion moves to a covenant of peace and a new census of the people.  From the census the parashah moves to a discussion of land distrubution among the tribes once they reach the Promsied Land and the laws of inheritance in general.

It is during the section on inheritance that we come upon the individuals who are filled with faith in God, a desire for equality, and a willingness to go against the grain.  Who are they?  They are five sisters, the daughters of Tzelofehad who, upon seeing Moses distribute the land to the men of the various tribes, came forward with the claim that they should be allowed to inherit the portion of land that should have gone to their father, who died without leaving behind any sons.  The text states:

The daughters of Zelofehad, of Manassite family .... came forward.  The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.  They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the chieftains, and the whole assembly, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and they said, “Our father died in the wilderness.  He was not one of the faction, Korah’s faction, which banded together against the Lord, but died for his own sin; and he has left no sons.  Let not our father’s name be lost to his clan just because he had no son!  Give us a holding among our father’s kinsmen!”  Moses brought their case before the Lord.  And the Lord said to Moses, “The plea of Zelofehad’s daughter’s is just; you should give them a hereditary holding among their father’s kinsmen.”

It is a fascinating story, both for what is says and what it does not say.  We know little about these women except that they must have been very exceptional in their faith and strength to challenge Moses and “the system.”  Their faith is inspirational for anyone who has ever been denied justice - they are Malala’s spiritual ancestresses.  But what is also fascinating is what we learn about Moses in a midrash about the end of the narrative.  You see, the rabbis were struck by the wording “Moses brought their case before the Lord.”  They ask Why? Surely Moses didn’t bring every case before God.  Why then in this instance DOES he bring the case to God?

In Midrash Rabbah we read one possible:   Resh Lakish says: Moses our Teacher knew this law, but the women came in the first instance before the chiefs of ten who said: ‘This is a case concerning inheritance and is not within our scope. It belongs to our superiors.’ The women came to the chiefs of fifty. Seeing that the chiefs of ten had shown them honour, the chiefs of fifty said: ‘In our case also there are superiors to us.’ The same reply was given by the chiefs of hundreds, by the chiefs of thousands, and by the princes. They all answered them in the same strain, for they were unwilling to begin considering it before their superior. So they went to Eleazar and he told them: ' Behold, there is Moses our Teacher! ' All parties came before Moses. When Moses saw that each one had shown respect to his superior, he thought: If I tell them the law I shall be appropriating all the greatness. So he said to them: ‘I too have a Superior!’ Therefore, MOSES BROUGHT THEIR CAUSE BEFORE THE LORD. The Holy One, blessed be He, answered him: THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD SPEAK RIGHT.       

This midrash teaches us at least two very important lessons about how we go through life on a day to day basis.  The first is the way in which we interract with our fellow human beings.  The men in the midrash all understood their own limitations; each had the strength to admit that they did not have the answer, and refer  the daughters to someone else who could help - something many people find very difficult.  I know many people who will simply dismiss a question or problem they have no answer or solution for, or worse, they will invent one.  We all should behave as the leaders in the story do - looking for the proper answer, even if it takes time and effort, rather than giving an incorrect answer to an important question.

The second way that this story can influence us is the final example of Moses.  Moses, the greatest teacher, judge, prophet, leader of all time also knew he was not the final answer.  No matter his greatness on earth, no matter that he thought he knew the answer, Moses knew there was still one higher - God.  And Moshe Rabbenu, Moses our teacher wanted to impress this on the people, so he turned to God for an answer.  Moses placed his faith, vbUnt in Hashem.  He fully relied on God as he had throughout his years of leadership.  And as always, God answered him. This is a lesson too many of our leaders today do not understand.  They are NOT the final authority.  Though some of them I believe may think and act as though they are God, we know that there is only one God and He isn’t an American politician!

vbUnt, faith, is an integral part of what it means to be  a Jew though we don’t talk about it very often. That is a mistake.  We leave it for others to talk about when it is really part of our own faith.  Each year at the High Holidays we say - Ani ma’amin be’emunah shlemah - I believe with perfect faith - perfect faith that there is a God, that that God hears us and listens to us, cares about us, helps us, and will answer us if we call on Him or Her or whatever - but only if we remember to ask the question, only if we, like Moshe rabbenu, “bring our case and our faith” to God.  May we all be as wise and humble.

Shabbat Shalom.