Parashat Pinchas 5784

Years ago, in my last year of Rabbinical School, I interned at a small egalitarian shtibl in Boston that in some ways feels very similar to PSJC. The heimish/homey feeling was almost identical, except this shtibl was actually inside of a home, the home of my mentor Rabbi Victor Reinstein. I have many memories from my time there, but one sticks out to me today. I walked in the shtibl one Friday night in the fall as the monthly children’s service was ending. A mom and her little boy (around 4 years old) were getting their coats on in the foyer as I was taking mine off. I waved hello and as I made my way in, he looked up at his mom and said, “Is she a Rabbi?” Such a sweet and earnest question that made me pause and realize that such a question had seldom been asked of me. All of a sudden, countless memories ashed before my eyes--in Lyft or Uber rides, on the train, or on a bus in Jerusalem–when some form of the question, “Women can do that?” had been presented to me like a heavy gift that I never wanted. It got so bad that I had a standard comeback. “Don’t worry,” I’d say, “At our ordination ceremony, once they put the prayer shawl on our backs, we sprout an instant full-length beard. Kind of like a chia pet!” 

Obviously, I didn’t make up the image of a Rabbi with a beard. The Hebrew word for beard, zakan, is almost identical to the word zaken, elder or wise person. And yet, I am so grateful for the amount of female rabbis in this world, which is ever increasing, that are challenging the image of what a Rabbi looks like. I am grateful to not have been alone on my journey. 

This week, five women known as the daughters of Zelophehad stand up to tradition in favor of justice. Their father died in the wilderness and he had no sons, and according to the laws at that time, the daughters would not inherit their father’s land. “Why should the name of our father be lost from among his family, just because he had no son? Give us a possession amongst our father’s kinsmen!” They said. 

Moshe takes the case to G!d, who swiftly answers that the case that the daughters brought forth is indeed just, and the laws of inheritance were forever changed. 

In a time where patriarchal lineage was of utmost importance, the actions of the daughters of Zelophehad were incredibly radical and incredibly brave. 

A modern Midrash by Rivka Lovitz adds another layer, illuminating their bravery. She asks:

“Why, in the beginning, are they called the daughters of Zelophehad (צלפחד (and only later are they each mentioned by name? This is due to the shadow (צל (and the fear (פחד (that they had in the beginning. For at the start, they were in the shadow of their father, and they were afraid to go in front of the assembly. As they drew closer together, this one to the other, they became confident and were thus called by their names, as it is written, "The daughters of Zelophehad ... and these are the names of his daughters." 

Together, the sisters were able to fight for what they (and ultimately God) knew was right. But, only together. 

Back in the shtibl in Boston that autumn Shabbos with the little boy and his mom, I learned that during the service, when Rabbi Victor introduced himself, the same boy spoke up saying, “Boys can be Rabbis too!?” 

It gave me great comfort to know that this little boy had seen so many female Rabbis that the image of Rabbi imprinted in his mind most likely didn’t include a beard at all. 

Also in our Parsha is a transfer of power. Just a few verses after our story, Moshe asks God to appoint someone over the community to guide them into the land and complete the journey with them. A vulnerable ask from Moshe, who is coming to terms with not being able to enter the land and complete the journey with his people. Hashem tells Moshe to appoint Joshua, and in the first example of smicha, or laying on of hands, Joshua is appointed leader. 

This week, regardless of where you stand politically, we have witnessed a historic moment for women, for people of color, and for Jews. We have seen a transfer of power, albeit a reluctant one, and a reinvigoration of hope that we so desperately need at this time. Regardless of what happens, or where you stand, may we be able to pause and notice these much needed changes in our world. May we be comforted by the fact that the world is changing, in many ways for the good, and that the change is in our hands. 

Shabbat Shalom.