Shabbat B'Midbar Shalom! We at Beit Torah ask what expectations should we have of our leaders?

 

Shabbat B'Midbar 5786; Drafts and Tasks; BaMidbar 1:1-4:20; Hosea 2:1-22

 

Why ‘Numbers’ when ‘in the desert’ the Hebrew says

For this next Book of Torah we now embrace

As per HaShem’s instructions setting all in place?

 

Perhaps since it starts with many a census counts:

Of elected tribal Chiefs (for just dealings – a fount);

Of draft aged men; of one month old males and older;

(Giving a basis for assessing taxes due;)

Of all Levites en toto and by each clan’s case -

Not once but twice to assign tasks each must shoulder

Ages thirty to fifty, light tasks for older base

When post-fifty wisdom is the skill used best:

 

How to dismantle and assemble Mishkan parts;

How to organize the camp, all facing the ark,

By each unit of each tribe at Moshe’s behest.

In charge of Priestly functions were Aaron and sons

For some of tasks needed they were the only ones!

Tasks to punish past failures? As honored to-do’s?

 

Now when the counts and task appointing were all through,

Aaron's family line and Moshe's were described -

The sons of Yocheved in birth order counted status flaunted...

Tasks for other clans later leading to much strife...

 

If elef is one thousand, the census seems wrong.

Yet if elef is a unit of six or five,

The numbers to camp for forty years and survive

More reasonable in a desert clime to belong.

Even more so true it is if contingent is elef…

With no commas in place, misconception clearly was born -

We’ve a number at first of tribe contingent units formed

Followed by total soul numbers within the tribe’s elefs!

Tribes sat ‘round the Mishkan in army divisions,

Each led by its Chieftain and facing the Mishkan.

 

Since Reuven’s misbehaviours it possibly seemed

That the Levites were viewed like first born by HaShem…

Hence first born sons for the Priests could then be redeemed

At five shekels a head by the Pidyon HaBen.

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The Machar Chodesh associated Haftorah is a moving story of the deep love between Yonatan and David in which Yonatan risked his own life to save David from the insane jealousy of his father, Shaul, as I try to relate here:

 

1 Samuel 20:18-42

 

Saul seemed jealous of David and ever so more nuts

That his son, Yonatan, helped his friend David to flee

On Rosh Chodesh and for three days covering his butt

Until Yoni would come shooting three arrows he could see

With words of 'coast being clear' or 'imminent danger'.

 

On the second eve out, Saul asked where David could be.

Yoni said he allowed Dave to Beit Lechem a leave.

Saul blew up at Yoni, yelled: choosing David brought shame

To him and to Yoni's rebellious, perverse Mother!

Shaul threw a spear at his son, threatening to kill

Yoni and David who were much closer than brothers.

Yoni fled, humiliated, knew what to do still:

 

So he shot three arrows to warn David of danger.

Then when they were left alone there without any stranger,

They wept on each other, they kissed, and then made a pact

Of Peace for themselves and their kids to shun hateful acts

With caring, respect, love - honor for eternity!

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Haftorah, Hosea

 

Hosea might be first to see Israel as G!d’s wife.

Indeed King Solomon did embrace that view of life...

Of a spiritual desert Hosea wrote

In our Haftorah portion for this week’s readings.

By temptations refused, the Exodus recalled,

Our bond with HaShem restored by Mitzvot heeding;

To HaShem our Nation espoused in faithfulness

With Children of the Living G!d in righteousness;

To our Brit: mercied devotion through just goodness...

 

How then was it a spiritual desert place?

The discord was such that Judah and Israel were made

With much differing views as their importance did fade:

The chasing of wealth and gods did goodness erase,

Bounty from G!d misused in unethical pursuits,

Like a 'wife' engaged in harlotry gave G!d the boot...

 

Israel's the wife, mother to be rebuked

Until enticed to return to the Law once more

So that full bounty and mitzvot can be restored

Without harlots, idolatry, hate emoted -

So that a Brit of safety's made with the devoted

To HaShem's Laws and Mitzvot so as to become

HaShem's "my people", a Nation acting as one

With an end to strife for all of life - war no more!

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The Kohanim's Blessing for Chag Shavuot

Hebrew, Italian, English:

​

Ye-va-rach-ah Adonai ve-yish-me-recha

Ti benedica Dio e ti costudisca

May G-d bless you and keep you

Y-eir Adonai pa-nav ei-lech-cha vi-chu-necha

Rivolga Dio il Suo volto verso di te, e ti dia grazia

May the light of G-d shine upon you

and may G-d be gracious to you

Yi-sa Adonai pa-nav ei-le-cha ve-ya-seim le-cha shalom

Rivolga Dio il Suo volto verso di te e ti conceda la pace

May G-d’s presence be with you and give you peace.

And let us all say…. Amen

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Shavuot 5780 Suggested study topics

 

Our Torah recounts that the Patriarchs and Matriarchs worked as husbands and wives equals with each other. We have Torah stories which proclaim certain women as more righteous than men such as Tamar standing up to Judah to claim her right to bear a child of his lineage. Yet as time went on past Torah times, the Children of Israel became ever more tainted with the practices of the goyim, the neighboring tribes and nations. Hence the status of women devolved. Let us take this opportunity during Shavuot to investigate further the contributions of women such as Ruth, Hulda and Devorah to the well-being of the Jewish People.

 

A- Devorah, A Leader for All of her Time:

The biblical Devorah is described as a prophetess, a wise judge, an excellent military strategist, and the leader of all her people – not just women. [Shoftim, Judges Ch. 4: 4-9]

When her military Commander, Barak refused to go to battle without her, she predicted that the glory of victory would go to a woman and not to him. This prediction later came to pass when the enemy leader, Sisera, fled the battle and tried to take refuge with the wife of one he believed to be an ally. She apparently did not agree as she hammered a tent peg through his brain. [4:17-21]

Still Devorah was not arrogant nor prideful about her success. She worked cooperatively with the military commander, Barak. When victory was achieved she shared the honor with Barak as seen in their shared song related in Ch. 5….

Yet some still have been derisive of her name and demeaned of her for holding court under a tree…

 

B- Women as Priests and Leaders

Before the Temples and the monarchies, towns were led by councils of elders, wise women. We had great leaders and strategists like Devorah. Before and during the times of Moshe, Ethiopia was ruled by a line of Queens. Further, there were Jewish Queens during second Temple times. The most beloved and well known was Alexandra, Shlomtzion [Hasmonean times]. Also the Talmud includes contributions by Bruria, daughter of two teachers of Torah who were killed by the Romans for teaching Torah. She was wife to a Rabbi and recognized as wise for her own merit. Also quoted is Ima Shalom, another very respected wise woman.

Women as priests has mostly been dismissed as fantasy by men over the centuries. Yet evidences have been present – and ignored. Even today with dozens of orthodox women Rabbis [not to mention the many non-orthodox], there are some orthodox groups who want to dismiss them as invalid and inappropriate. Yet, about 80 inscriptions found from Tel el.Yehudiyyeh [first to fourth centuries C. E.] mention three women Priests: Marin [50 y.o.], Guadentia [24 y.o], and possibly Maria. The last one was difficult to read. The language is parallel to the 4 or 5 male Priest inscriptions there found. So how are women of today allowed to be leaders? What equalities and inequalities do they have to deal with?

 

C- Women as Teachers and Rabbis

During the Renaissance, Pomona de Modena of Ferrara was reputed to be as adept in Talmud scholarship as the best of the male scholars. When Hasidism developed, they believed that all people should be able to study Torah and scriptures. Many women became Rabbaniot [or Rabbanot], that is to say female Rabbis.

For instance:

1. Sarah bat Joshua Haschel Teumim Frankel acted as Rebbe after the death of her husband. She was known for wise parables and consulted by many famous Rabbis.

2. Hannah Rachel Yerbermacher [Maid of Ludomir] used tzitzit, tallit, and tefillin [as did, it is reported, the daughters of Rashi]. She studied Torah and became a Rabbi whose sermons were well attended by many Rabbis.

 

D- Women as Writers and Historians

As in the non-Jewish world, women were disapproved of as writers. Yet there were Jewish women writers of note such as between the 16 th and 18 th century CE:

1. Hannah Ashkenazi of Cracow [1573] on moral topics.

2. Edel Mendels of Cracow [17 th century CE] who wrote a history book for women.

3. Bella Hurwitz, historian and printer [1700’s].

4. Eva [Hava] Bacharech of Prague was an expert in rabbinical and biblical writings. She was widely consulted especially about obscure passages [1580-1651].

5. Rebbetzin Rebbeca Tiktiner [a learned woman and preacher, mid-1500’s] wrote on poetry and moral teachings from Talmud and Mishna. The printer’s introduction to her posthumous book is: “This book is called Meneket Rivka [Genesis 35:8] in order to remember the name of the authoress and in honor of all women to prove that a woman can also compose a work of ethics and offer good interpretations as well as many a man.”

 

E- and then there is Ruth… The Book of Ruth is a typical study reading for discussion during Shavuot! - touching on topics such as acceptance of converts...

 

Undoubtedly, many Jewish women educators and role models remain forgotten in history. A great many more discovered are not addressed here. We women Rabbis in IFR, RSI, Aleph, etc. continue the ever present [albeit rarely taught] traditions of our foremothers. As leaders, educators, and role models despite the patronizing sexism, bullying, and other bigotries we all have had to face, it is our prayer that this piece can open the door to intellectual curiosity and greater respect for each other regardless of gender identification.

What further history in Jewish leadership can you uncover that will encourage better equality acceptance regardless of gender identification? Please share what you uncover! Chag Shavuot Tov!

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Shavuot 5786

 

Seven weeks we have counted since Seder times,

Even less since Lab B'Omer bar-b-q time...

So now we are ready our first fruits to eat;

Boaz's Ruth to study as converts we greet;

Our Loved Ones to recall with Yiskor prayers

After staying up all night for soul repairs...

We embrace with open hearts this Feast of Weeks

And fervent pleadings that our World soon finds Peace!

 

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Book of Ruth full text: https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/ruth-full-text

 

Decalogue, i.e. the Big Ten: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments ;

adapted from https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/decalogue :

I am YHWH your God:

You shall have no other gods besides me.

You shall not make yourself a graven image.

You shall not take the name of YHWH in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not kill.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal (a person, i.e. kidnap).

You shall not bear false witness.

You shall not covet.

 

1. On the ground that it is He who liberated them from Egypt, God demands that Israel recognize as god no other divine beings (cf. Naḥmanides).

 

2. No image of any creature may be made for worship – no distinction being made between a symbol of another god and one used in the cult of YHWH. Any cult image is ipso facto "another god," an object of YHWH's jealousy (cf. Ex. 20:20 (23); Deut. 4:15ff.; the golden calf is in YHWH's honor, Ex. 32:5). This demand for an an iconic cult does not prohibit objects of religious art which are not intended as objects of worship (e.g., *cherubim , trees, lions, cattle (I Kings 6:23ff., 29; 7:25, 29)). If, however, such an object became venerated, it was then banned (II Kings 18:4).

 

3. Using God's name for a vain thing has traditionally been understood to mean false oaths (cf. Ps. 24:4; Targ.); but evil prayer (cf. Ps. 16:4) or sorcery might be intended too. Frivolous oaths (Philo, Josephus) and, finally, any idle use of God's name (e.g., as in an unnecessary benediction (Ber. 33a)) came to be included. Another possibility (Staples, Sperling) is that the phrase should be translated as: "You shall not speak the name of YHWH to that which is false." In other words, do not identify a false god with YHWH...

 

4. Observance of the Sabbath rest, according to E, respects God's consecration of the day at the end of Creation...

 

5. Honor is due to both father and mother (cf. Lev. 19:3; and Ex. 21:15, 17; Lev. 20:9; Deut. 21:18ff.; 27:16). Juxtaposition of this "word" to the preceding injunctions concerning God's honor was later explained by the parents' partnership with God in creating offspring (Mekh. Sb-Y to 20:12, Naḥmanides; cf. Gen. 4:1).

 

6. "Murder" has traditionally rendered the Hebrew raẓaḥ here; for, though the verb covers non-culpable homicide as well (Num. 35:11, 27, 30; Deut. 4:42), to construe it as an absolute ban on killing would bring this "word" into conflict with the death penalty prescribed by the law for many offenses. The injunction affirms the sanctity of human life.

 

7. The verb na'af denotes sexual relations with a married woman by anyone but her husband (Lev. 20:10; Jer. 29:23; Ezek. 16:32). The inviolateness of a married woman is the basis of a patrilineal society.

 

8. Tradition understands ganav here to denote kidnapping, i.e., a theft liable to capital punishment – an offense of the same order as the two preceding (Mekh., Yitro, 8). [Some say this includes spiritual theft of the soul…] Stealing at large is banned; the right of possession is affirmed.

 

9. The ban on false witness seeks to protect all transactions that require the honesty of the citizenry in the marketplace (Jer. 32:12) as well as the court.

 

10. Traditional legal exegesis understands ḥamad to involve action (Mekh., Yitro, 8, comparing Deut. 7:25; Mekh., SBY to 20:17: "one who exerts pressure to get something"; cf. Levi b. Gershom, who compares Ex. 34:24 ["no man will endeavor to take it from you"] and Micah 2:2, and concludes that "one does not violate this prohibition until he does something to obtain the object"). However (as Ibn Ezra to Deut. 5:16 observes) the verb may also be merely mental (e.g., Prov. 6:25), ... Since D expressly substitutes hitavvah (hit'awwah, "desire") for ḥamad in the second sentence, it clearly regarded the injunction as banning guilty desires.

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Shabbat Shalom! We at Beit Torah ask what obligations and responsibilities do we, as Jews, have?

 

Shabbat Shalom! We at Beit Torah ask how can we best treat each other?

Shabbat Nasso 5786; Dealing with Impurities, Priestly Duties, Nazarites, Gifts vs. Bribes, Corrupt Leaders; BaMidbar 4:21-7:89; Judges 13:2 -13:25

 

Now we learn more of how Levites special were made

As from Aaron and sons tasks to do were relayed

After ev'ry clan's census was taken that day:

Merarites stood to protect Mishkan contents all

Which were sacred to HaShem and the Tribes it’s said;

Gershonites transported Mishkan parts without falls,

On oxen drawn carts too, with Merarites as holders;

Kohathites maintained the Tent of Meeting quite well

With transporting Holy objects on their shoulders...

While each clan performed its tasks, too many to tell,

By their men aged thirty to fifty - as they tread...

 

With the Mishkan fully anointed and all therein,

With appointed duties to different Levite clans,

Daily offerings each by another Chieftain,

Twelve came to dedicate the Altar as per plan.

Above the Ark of the Pact in the Meeting Tent

Moish spoke with and heard from HaShem when there he went.

 

One said to be impure, outside the camp was placed,

While those who had stolen were then given a break

At a hundred twenty percent repayment take,

Not two hundred... [ Was it guilty conscience based?]-

Yet since perishable gifts to named Priests were okay,

One wonders: were there bribes to limit costs that day?

 

Communal non-perishable gifts to coffers saved

Allowed Mishkan functioning in every case

Such as for women accused of being unchaste,

Then given floor dirt and cursed ink flavored water

To cause childlessness if an unfaithful daughter,

But not death, just shaming, from the cursed bitter ink

Or bitterness when falsely accused one might think…

Yet no consequence for a false accuser was made…

[Paranoid misogynistic men on parade?]

 

Now the Nazarite vows were not taken lightly,

Required no takes of grapes or ferments in any form,

No hair cuts, no nearing the dead. Such was the norm.

Offerings vows to G!d must be done ever more!

If someone present died, vows restarted once more:

After seven days the impure shaved rightly,

With purifying rites for to spirit restore.

 

After the complete Tabernacle set up

Consecration of all by Moshe was up

With offered dedications by Chiefs, each day

A different tribe leader leading the way.

 

For Moshe a perk: above cherubim wings

HaShem’s words could be heard as though they could sing!

Moish in Holy of Holies hence wanted to be.

 

Speaking of Nazarites, it is good to know

That the Haftorah for this week, as Judges goes,

Is of the birth of Samson with his Mother’s vows

Which she based on HaShem’s dear messenger’s words now

Of no grapes nor ferments nor wines nor nearing death,

Post- a disappearing holo messenger's show,

Related to her husband who wanted to see

And speak with the strange fellow, thank him with a feast.

To hubby Manoah, vows the guy did repeat.

Then he said: “To HaShem give thanks, I will not eat”

As he stepped in the pyre and his visage ceased.

 

To finally have a child to raise with each breath!

Nazarite child to suppress Philistines somehow...

A male child who grew to be by HaShem quite blessed

Like chapter six ending with three Priest blessings blessed

To remind People that with HaShem their bond grows:

“May HaShem bless you and keep you.

May HaShem shine the divine face upon you and be gracious to you.

May HaShem lift up the divine countenance upon you and give you peace.”

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