The Anthropologist Deconstructing Antizionism
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Wise words spoken at the right time and place can be influential. If they bring about positive change, they become transformative. This idea is illustrated by five sisters, whose life-changing words affected history.
This week’s Torah portion speaks of the five daughters of Tzelafchad (Zelophehad). In their merit, the Torah’s laws of inheritance became fully revealed. Here’s some background: Tzelafchad died in the wilderness following the Exodus. He had no sons to receive his inheritance. At that time, the inheritance of land was passed on exclusively to sons. Tzelafchad’s daughters became distressed when the Land of Israel was being allocated. Challenging the status quo, they petitioned against what they felt was the injustice done to them, their father, and their family. The unmarried sisters courageously presented their bold argument before Moshe and the elders: “Why should our father’s name be omitted from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.”
Moshe was perplexed by their plea. He brought the sisters’ request before God, who responded, “What Tzelafchad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them an inheritance of land among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.”
And so, it was done. Tzelafchad’s daughters helped pave the way for countless unnamed women in the generations that followed to inherit and own land. Our Sages state that these devout sisters were “very wise and chose the right time to present their request. They knew how to interpret the Torah and were very virtuous.”
In contrast to that of the men, the women’s devotion to the Land of Israel never wavered, as was demonstrated when the spies were sent to scout the land. God said (to Moshe), “Send for yourself men to scout out the land of Canaan.” The Kli Yakar explains that God wasn’t commanding but rather permitting Moshe to send men on this mission. God was saying, “From My perspective, seeing the future, it would have been better to send women, because they love and cherish the land and would never come to speak negatively about it. However, since you are convinced that these men are worthy and do indeed value the land, I give you permission to go ahead and send them.”
These men, however, returned with a negative report of the land. Upon hearing the report of these scouts, a group of men declared, “Let us appoint a new leader and return to Egypt.”
Notwithstanding, the women were steadfast and declared their ded- ication to and love of the land. Because they valued and treasured the Promised Land, they valued their inheritance. Tzelafchad’s daughters rightfully received their inheritance of land.
Jews who don’t value or are unaware of their Jewish heritage forfeit an unrecognized treasure. Their spiritual inheritance waits to be claimed. The transmission of Torah and Jewish heritage is fueled by love and devotion. Without these essential elements, Judaism is missing its heart and soul.
Because the daughters of Tzelafchad so greatly loved the Land of Israel, they merited to have a law pertaining to the land brought out in their names. What had previously been concealed was revealed.
Today, we can take for granted that women enjoy the right to own property. Yet for centuries in the United States and Europe, a woman’s husband or other male relative controlled any property allotted to her. A woman’s right to own property was a process that took place over time and began in the 1700s. It wasn’t until the twentieth century that it was finally commonplace.
The case of Tzelafchad’s five valiant daughters was a watershed moment in history. It brought out important new laws that would affect women across time. Their story is a compelling lesson for all those who think that their destiny is fixed, or that Divine justice has abandoned them.
May our forthright words be spoken at a conducive time. May they help open doors and provide opportunities for us and future generations. Ultimately, may we merit to use our wise words to bring about positive, life-changing results.
