Cantor's thoughts on Pinchas
Torah Portion Pinchas includes the story of the daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They are often seen as pioneering figures for women's rights and justice within the Torah. In a contemporary context, their determination to challenge existing norms and fight for their rightful inheritance can be likened to the efforts of modern women who break barriers and advocate for equality in various fields.
One prominent figure who embodies the spirit of the daughters of Zelophehad is Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States. Numerous firsts mark Harris's career: she is the first female, first Black, and first South Asian Vice President. Like the daughters of Zelophehad, who boldly approached Moses and the leaders of Israel to claim their inheritance, Harris has consistently challenged the status quo throughout her career. From her time as a district attorney and California's Attorney General to her role as a U.S. Senator and Vice President, Harris has navigated and dismantled barriers in predominantly male-dominated spaces. And since Sunday, she might become officially the Democrat candidate for the highest job in the country, not the first woman to seek it though.
Ather women’s accomplishments could be compared to Zelophehad’s daughters. Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, who advocates for girls' education worldwide comes to mind. Both Malala and the daughters of Zelophehad highlight the power of raising one's voice against injustice and pushing for change, regardless of the challenges faced.
Additionally, women leaders in business, such as Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors, Ginni Rometty, the former CEO of IBM, and Safra Catz, the CEO of Oracle Corporation and the proud mother of a participant in the Pan American Maccabi games where both our sons competed at, reflect the trailblazing spirit of Zelophehad’s daughters. These leaders have shattered glass ceilings in industries historically dominated by men, advocating for diversity, inclusion, and equitable practices within their organizations. Their success stories inspire future generations of women to pursue leadership roles and seek equity in the workplace.
In essence, the daughters of Zelophehad today would be women who not only challenge and change the systems around them but also pave the way for others to follow. Their legacy lives on in every woman who dares to defy the norms, seeks justice, and champions equality, making a lasting impact on society.
A Message from Rabbi Anderson
Korach
Korach, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, took – with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben – and they rose up against Moses with two hundred and fifty Israelites, chieftains of the community…. (Num. 16:1-2)
One famous puzzle of Parshat Korach is its first words: in Hebrew, ויקח קרח (vayikach Korach), or in English, “Korach took.” What exactly did Korach take? The best-known explanation is that Korach betook himself to rise up – in other words, that he separated himself from the community (Midrash Tanchuma, Rashi) – although there’s a minority view that Korach took the other conspirators, especially the chieftains, when he incited them to rebellion (Ibn Ezra mentions but rejects this). Overall, our tradition leans heavily in the direction of seeing Korach as a rebel who perhaps organizes other rebels, but not someone who coerced others into rebellion, and later midrash and commentary also emphasizes that any of the rebels who changed their mind (including Korach’s own household) were not punished. Each person becomes responsible for their own decisions, and those shape their outcomes.
While in the Torah there’s a clear causal relationship between Korach’s rebellion and his death, in the rest of Jewish history and in our lives today we know that many bad things have happened to good people, and vice versa. This coming Thursday night (July 11th) at 7:30pm on Zoom I’ll be finishing my Big Jewish Questions series with what I think is the biggest Jewish question: how does any of this fit into a world with a just God or any other internal logic? Please join me if you can – we’ll be making a real effort to find answers that make sense to Jews today.