Game Changers

Many of the stories in Bemidbar deal with the themes of rebellion and whining (or lack of gratitude).  Today, in parshat Pinchas, we have a story which breaks the mold.  It is the story about the daughters of Zelophehad.  We’ll take a look at that story now.

(Read 27:1- 11)

As you noticed, these five daughters begin making their point by saying that their father was not part of the rebellion against Moshe by Korach.  In fact, they are standing before Moshe, Elazaar the Priest, the tribal leaders, and the entire community when they make their request.  They are not gathering as Korach did against Moshe.

The Babylonian Talmud talks about the wisdom of these 5 daughters by mentioning that they spoke at the appropriate time.  In Bava Batra 119b it says that they approached when Moses was sitting and expounding the laws of yibum (levirate marriage) set forth in Deut. 25:5: “When brothers dwell together and one of them dies and leaves no son […]. Her husband’s brother shall unite with her: take her as his wife.” The daughters of Zelophehad said to Moses: “If we are as important as a son, give us a portion as a son; and if not, let our mother be subject to levirate marriage.” They were also capable of expounding Scripture, for they said to Moses: “If our father had had a son, we would not have spoken” (BT Bava Batra 119b).  Their argument came at a time that had an impact on Moshe.

The order of the five daughters listed in this week’s portion is Machlah, No’ah, Choglah, Milkah, and Tirtzah.  (verse 1).  In parasha, Ma’asei they are listed in a different order, Machlah, Tirtzah, Choglah, Milkah, and No’ah.(36:11)  Rashi commented on the variation in order by saying that these five thought of themselves as equals.  They had mutual respect for one another, were unified, and worked together.  If that is how they saw themselves, then perhaps that was also how they wanted others to see them as well.

Some commentators have pointed out that the 5 daughters had an understanding of G-d similar to that found in the ashrei. They understood:

ט טוֹב־יְהוָ֥ה לַכֹּ֑ל וְ֝רַחֲמָ֗יו עַל־כָּל־מַעֲשָֽׂיו׃

How good is the Eternal to all, merciful to all of creation.

G-d has mercy on each of G-d’s creations, on everyone. G-d does not discriminate based on gender.  Such discrimination only comes from people.  These women had trust in G-d and accordingly, that is why G-d states, “ the daughters of Tzelofchad are pleading correctly.”  (27:7)

Commentators like Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer Kosoy of the Pardes Institute have noted that the request of the five daughters was not being made to displace men in general, it was made because the women wanted to be part of moving forward with the divine mission of inhabiting the Land of Israel.  While asserting their own needs, they also recognize the inheritance rights of others.  That want to remain part of the community.  That is why they are willing to marry within their own tribe so that the land they inherit will also remain intact with their tribe. 

There is one more interesting juxtaposition to be noted related to this story.  Notice chapter 26:65.  It tells of the death of the wilderness generation that doubted the goodness of the land that they would be entering due to the report of the spies we read about in Shelach L’cha.  The daughters of Zelophahad do want to enter the land, they do want to be part of the generation that will be settling the land.

I do think this story has meaning for us today.  First, if we are going to approach individuals and ask them to consider our pleas for social change, we must do so in a positive way.  Whining and complaining do not get the kinds of responses that good timing and proper strategies can accomplish. If someone can see our point of view and say, “Good point!” which is in essence what G-d did when judging their proposition, then we will accomplish so much more.  We need to work together, show one another mutual respect, and live in a way that shows respect for all people.

When individuals want to be counted as equals within a group, we should not look at their requests as threatening.  Equality is about sharing and not forgetting to worry about the needs of others and paying attention to only one’s own needs.  Equality is about wanting to be part of the community that strives for justice and righteousness.

And finally, when Conservative Judaism first began debating the inclusion of women in the minyan and serving as Rabbis, individuals worried that it meant that women wanted to displace men in religious spheres.  The process was a long and arduous one in our movement.  Now, it is beginning to be debated and acted upon in the Orthodox movement as well. 

Rabbi Avi Weiss privately ordained Rabba Sara Hurwitz in 2009 and declared her the first female Orthodox clergywoman — then founded a school, Yeshivat Maharat, to train more — his school has ordained 21 women. In Israel, Rabbi Daniel Landes, Rabbi Daniel Sperber, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, and Rabbi Herzl Hefter have welcomed women into communal leadership roles offering ordination after intensive learning in the coed yeshivot that they have been heading.

The daughters of Zelophehad were game changers in their day.  In a way they exemplified this statement made by a friend of ours in Jerusalem, Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, when he told a group receiving smicha last May. ““Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but of humility.”  That is what allowed these women to be game changers in their day, and how I hope all future leaders within the Jewish world will be defined that way as well.

Now we are going to honor some game changers in our congregation.  Known as the Yad Squad, they willingly and selflessly take assignments that are handed out to them for Torah readings, because they know how important it is to have an actual Torah reading during our Shabbat morning service.  In some congregations, only paid professionals read Torah.  Here we have individuals who are not paid who want to be part of the forward movement of this congregation. So I’d like to call up:  Bob Evnen, Michael Eppel, Lorena Wachendorf, Esti Sheinberg, Ken Bloom, and Seth Harris to receive a gift of appreciation from us all. If Sarah Kelen were here, I’d also call her up as well.  I’d also like to recognize the selfless contributions of our two gabbaim, Charles Coren and Bob Hutkins, who help our Torah readers and our individuals who are called to the Torah.  Their oversight of the Torah service, helps it run smoothly and provides us an important contribution to our Shabbat morning experience.

Game changers as I mentioned before are people of integrity, honesty, and humility.  We appreciate those qualities in each you.  Todah Rabbah.

Amen.