Torah Portion of the Week
Building Character through the Themes of the Weekly Torah Portion
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.
– Albert Einstein
A Tale of Five Sisters
In this Torah portion we see another episode of bold actions. Moses was instructed by God on how the Land of Israel was to be divided amongst the Israelites. Knowing that the inheritance only went from father to son, the five daughters of Zelophehad, whose father had died without any sons, did not want to miss out and felt that it would be unfair for them not to receive a share in the Land. So they boldly and courageously stood up for themselves by presenting their case to Moses, asking to receive their father’s portion of the Promised Land.
Moses consulted with God on this matter, and God granted their request, saying, “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right…” (JPS 1917, Num. 27:7). Furthermore, He even included in the laws of inheritance that if a man died and had no sons, his inheritance should pass on to his daughter.
Beautifully Bold
We can learn from every situation and from every person. The actions of both Pinchas and the daughters of Zelophehad present an important lesson of boldness in a proper context.
The actions of Pinchas teach us that when we see improper behavior, we shouldn’t just stand by and look away. We must boldly stand up for what is right and confront it, even if it goes against our nature. Like Pinchas, we must be loyal to God and His virtues. Loyalty is a virtue that drives success.
The actions of the daughters of Zelophehad teach us that we can boldly stand up for ourselves in a respectful manner. When you feel that you are not being treated fairly, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and try to find a solution to the situation.
When you are faced with challenges that demand courage, remember that there is a right time, a right place, and a right context for boldness.
Pronunciation Guide for Transliterated Hebrew Words
a |
[a] as in arm |
ai |
[ai] as in Thailand |
e |
[e] as in red |
ei |
[ei] as in eight |
i |
[i] as in ski |
o |
[o] as in score |
oi |
[oi] as in oil |
u |
[u] as in rule |
ui |
[ui] as in gluing |
ch/kh |
[ch] as in the Scottish loch |
g |
[g] as in good (not as in giant) |
tz |
[ts] as in hats |
‘ |
short “eh” or “uh” sound |
The Hebrew Scriptures in this text have been derived from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC), and the English translation is based off of the JPS 1917 Tanakh.
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash®
