In this week’s Torah portion, Matot Masei, we conclude the book of Numbers. In its final chapter we return to a story about a group of women, the daughters of Zelophehad. Unlike most women in the Torah, they are given names – Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah. Typically women are left unnamed in our Torah, referred to only in relationship to a man – like Lot’s wife or Pharaoh’s daughter. By giving them names, we are being told by the biblical writers that these women were worth remembering.
In an earlier parsha, these named sisters make a claim for land. Their father had died and they had no brothers. They wanted the land to be given to them and not divided up by distant relatives. They speak with Moses who views this challenge as one that must be heard by God. To put it simply, it is beyond Moses’ pay grade to determine the outcome. So, he goes to Adonai and shares their request. Will these women be listened to or will they be punished for their brash behavior? Without hesitation, God sees that their request is just. God rules in their favor.
These women spoke up for themselves in a society where women and women’s rights were often ignored. God listened because their request was beneficial for not only themselves but for others who might find themselves in a similar situation.
This parsha offers a lesson in speaking up even when the odds are stacked against you. Social or community norms might suggest that you need to remain in your place. But, if justice is on your side, no one should fear speaking out. These women remind us of the power of a strong argument and an even stronger moral cause.
Just because someone might look or sound like a leader does not make them one. Bluster and name-calling do not represent what is needed in a leader. True leaders focus on doing what is right for the greater community. Their acts create waves of justice. As we look at the potential leaders that surround us today, let us focus our energies on following those who will create a world where justice for all is the goal, no matter how difficult it might be to achieve.
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MATOT MAS-EI SUMMARY FROM THE URJ
For more information on this Torah portion go to:
https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/matot-masei
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