Jewish Musings, Wednesday, July 24

[louise]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.



Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:

Frieda (hopefully)

Holly

Lee

Louise

Lynne

Peachy



And for those of you that stop by to read this thread without posting — you are welcome to, but you are also welcome to chime in. Don’t be shy

[louise]

Well, if I don’t even mention Zelophehad’s 5 daughters Holly will have a cow!
You probably all know the basic story. There was a census in which, of course, only the males were counted and land was to be apportioned based on that census. Zelophedad had died leaving 5 unmarried daughters. They did the unthinkable – they spoke up and asked that they be able to receive some land. It is incredible enough that they spoke up in what was clearly a man’s world. In a camp where every group had their place they stepped out into the center where the leaders were and stated their case. Moshe said he did not know so he brought the question to God and God found unequivocally in their favor.

"I like the way My Jewish Learning sets up the scene:
The Israelite camp is formed of tribes, each of whom has a determined place, with the Tabernacle in the middle; and in the center stand the main authority figures, all of them men: Moses, the priest Eleazar, and the chieftains. Imposing as this structure may have been, the five sisters decide to claim their rights. Together, they go out of their tents, without being called by anyone, to the place where only the high-ranking men congregate, to the place where the Tablets from Sinai rest in the Ark, to the place of holiness and authority, to a place where women did not have authority. These men must have been overwhelmed when they saw such a startling, unprecedented situation!
"But this is not all that the five sisters do. They not only come forth, but also they speak with determination: “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not one of the faction, Korah’s faction, which banded together against God 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!”

I would be remiss to leave out that the 5 sisters are all referred to by name (as precious few women ever are in the Torah). Also, that they presented an argument for Heaven – the kind that Hillel and Shammai had – they had a well reasoned argument and presented it point by point. They did not accept the fate that had been preordained for them. And most precious to me at this time in our current political odyssey, they had the confidence in the system – in this case in the judgment of Moses and God – that they would be heard and treated fairly. With that I will continue to segue to where we are today with today’s unthinkable equivalent – we have a woman running for president!

I also can’t help but mention the “other” kind of argument that the other side is already hurling up – they should be compensated for expenses spent on a campaign that the democrats “obviously” knew was not viable, that she is for various reasons not a legitimate candidate (not American, etc.), that B was the worst president ever and she will be a million times worse (no evidence cited for either side of that statement) – I can’t even think of all the sh*t I have heard already.

[lee058]

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well and SAFE! Please pray for Israel.

Re today's topic: I'm totally in favor of everything that helps women have a voice and get things done to make our lives better, easier, and more worthwhile!! And since you mentioned her, Viva Kamala Harris!! I really hope she wins; it's high time the USA had an intelligent and capable woman President. I think she'll do a great job!

Have a peaceful day, Lee

[hollygail]

Wow! I didn't make the connection between the 5 daughters and Kamala Harris! Thank you, Louise, for that one!

I'm reading Torah for a small Renewal congregation come Saturday morning. I volunteered as soon as I saw that the group was meeting on Shabbat Pinchas specifically to read the 11 verses that tell the story Louise so succinctly abbreviated above. I do so each and every time it happens! Once, several years before the pandemic, someone else volunteered to read Torah that morning. I arrived earlier than I was supposed to and the Torah reader (who, although I love him dearly, cannot hit a single correct note) asked me to use the yad to follow in the Torah scroll as he wasn't ready to read the verses from the scroll. I found the place in the scroll easily enough and when I realized he was still studying from the chumash, I said I'd read it from the scroll before and would he like me to do so again. The look of relief on his face was incredible. I studied for less than a quarter hour until everyone was present, and during the Torah service I read (chanted) from the scroll perfectly. He was so grateful!

[peachymom1]

Good morning everyone, ah Pinchas, a controversial parashah, for sure. I'm reading Torah this Shabbat also, but I'm reading the first 17 verses, not the part about the feisty daughters.  I do love that story - they had some serious courage, and they're a great example to us today as well.

I slept well last night (no need for a gummy, but a great idea, Louise!), but I feel groggy today. I know I should get some exercise, but I feel sluggish. Maybe I can walk around while practicing my Torah reading - I pretty much have the verses memorized anyway. I don't have any meetings today, but we have a new hire coming on board soon, so I need to work on getting him set up and ready for his first day.

It's already getting warm, so I don't want any hot tea, but I think a glass of iced tea would be nice.