In this week’s parsha, Pinchas, the Bnei Yisrael – in their 40th year of desert wandering – continue to prepare for entry into the land of Israel.
In the beginning of Perek 27, the Torah tells us about the Bnos Tzelafchad, five righteous women from the tribe of Menashe. These holy women – Machla, Noah, Choglah, Milka and Tirtza - descendants of Yosef Ha’Tzaddik, approach Moshe with a revolutionary request. Noting that their father died in the desert, and did not leave behind any male heirs, these women request that their father’s portion in the land not be diminished or withheld. Rather, due to the absence of sons, the land portion shall be transferred to his daughters.
Moshe, unsure of what the halacha was in this case, consulted with Hashem for the Divine verdict. Hashem told Moshe that the Bnos Tzelafchad spoke well, and that their father’s portion should be transferred to them.
Chazal (Medrash Bamidbar Rabbah), and the commentators (Rashi, Kli Yakar, Rav S. R. Hirsch, and others), note that while the men rejected the land and said “let us appoint a head and return to Egypt” (in the aftermath of the Sin of the Spies), the women loved and embraced the land, and desired to have a portion in her.
In fact, Medrash Bamidbar Rabbah and Rav Hirsch (based on the Medrash) teach that every woman of that generation entered the land, as opposed to the men who died in the desert (aside from Miriam, whose death on ever ha’Yarden is a whole different topic…).
The Kli Yakar (Bamidbar 13:2) teaches that when Moshe desired to send spies to the land, Hashem told him, “Shelach lecha anashim, send for yourself men.” The Kli Yakar explains that Hashem was saying: if you ask Me, I think you should send women to the land, for they love the land and will not speak negatively about her. But if you think you should send men, shelach lecha anashim, then you are sending men according to your own calculations.
B”H my husband and I landed in Israel one week ago. As the plane was descending and the coast came into view, I was thinking about Moshe Rabbeinu who was told that he may see the land, but to there he would not cross. This remains one of the greatest chukim (mysteries) of Torah, yet in our smallness, here we were, about to enter the holy soil of Eretz Yisrael.
Thursday, we went to dinner at Shabbes Bistro, homemade style food in the heart of J’lem (Ibn Shaprut St 5). A very popular place, with very delicious food, we saw many tables of people eating cholent, kugel/yap’tzick and challah! Yes – they ordered plates of cholent, bought a fresh challah, and enjoyed to’ameha on leil erev Shabbos. The table next to us was a group of 3 guys who looked dati leumi, with small kippot serugot. The table next to them was a group of 3 yeshiva bochrim in white and black with velvet yarmulkas. Both groups were enjoying the same fare.
On Friday morning B”H, on our way down the steps to the Kotel, we met our friend Eliyahu, the kippa seller. We first met him seven summers ago, on our boys’ bar mitzvah trip, and we visit him each time we come. We have pictures with him from every year/trip that we are here. Of course, we buy kippot from him too! He was happy to see us and we spent some time catching up. His table faces Har Ha’zeisim, and I always think of when his namesake, Eliyahu Ha’Navi, will come to announce Mashiach’s arrival.
After davening at the Kotel, we went to the shuk. Jews of all stripes, colors, head coverings, and hashkafos were there preparing for Shabbos Kodesh. We bought fresh cherries, grown in Ramat Ha’Golan, from the fruit seller scooping them up with his hands, while calling out “lekavod Shabbat!” Needless to say, they were supremely delicious.
We visited our friend, Sammy, in the shuk, at his spices/nuts/tea store. We also met him seven summers ago, and try to visit him each time we come. We shared hellos, a short dvar torah, and of course, bought some nuts and spice mixture (tasting many things along the way!). When he offered me something to taste, I said (in Ivrit), “What is the bracha?” To which, with a smile, Sammy replied, “You already made a bracha!”
Our friend in the candy/chocolate store (corner of Agripas and back entrance to the shuk) was not there, as he was sitting shiva for his father. His nephew at the register recorded a short nichum aveilim video message from me to him (I don’t recall exactly when we met him, but he knows me as the “teacher from NY.” I first met him when we went to the store and I asked about a plaque at the entrance. It’s a memorial to his relative, Shimon Chaim Calazi HY”D, who was murdered many years ago in a terror attack.). The nephew at the register told me he is named for Shimon Chaim, and his name is Shimon.
Sunday evening, we spent a few hours in Beitar, visiting our son who is learning there B”H, and seeing the city (I have never been there before). The blessing of Torah in Eretz Yisrael is a sight to behold, and I truly felt the beauty, holiness, and splendor of this Ir v’Em b’Yisrael.
Monday morning, I was zocheh to give a shiur in the Yeshurun Shul to a women’s weekly learning group – ki m’Tzion teitzeh Torah, u’dvar Hashem m’Yerushalaim. Then my husband and I drove north to Teveria, from where I am writing this post.
Later this afternoon, we are going to visit Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, where our son – an oleh Chadash – is in a Kibbutz Ulpan program through the Jewish Agency, working the date fields and vineyards, as well as studying in Ulpan.
Eretz Yisrael: The land of vibrant colors, flowers, fruits, valleys, mountains, rivers and seas (from the beautiful Kinneret to the great Mediterranean). The land of dates (miles and miles of date palms all along Route 90!) and pomegranates (the beautiful rimon tree outside our host’s home in J’lem). The land of Jews who have gathered from the four corners of the earth to return Home. The land of our Avos and Imahos, Nevi’im and Nevi’os, Kings and Sages, Har HaBayis and the BHM”K, and most importantly, the land of The Divine Presence.
We have one nation, we have one land, we have one Torah, and one Hashem. While we are different from each other, the heart of one is the heart of all. Would that we recognize the gift of belonging, the humility of acceptance, the love for each other, the embrace of Hashem for every Jew (who wants to be part of Am Yisrael, and is ‘im Yisrael’), and the absolute necessity of unity.
As we enter the Three Weeks, may we remember that baseless hatred and divide destroys us R”L, and love and connection builds us.
The day I pen these words, Wednesday 16 Tamuz 5786, is my 50th birthday, B”H. Reflecting on this number, I share with you the following:
Fifty is made up of a five and a one. “Who knows five?” we ask on leil ha’Seder. “Five is the books of the Torah.” Five is also the daughters of Tzelafchad who loved, desired, and longed for the Land.
And zero is efes – nothing.
Like the five righteous daughters of Tzelafchad, we must choose between living a life committed to Eretz Yisrael and the five books of Torah, or a life, chalilah, of efes - zero.
And when we choose the former, perhaps then Hashem will return the full measure of The Divine Presence to our Land, will bless His nation with peace, and we will merit that Eliyahu the kippa seller, and all of us, will welcome the harbinger of redemption, Eliyahu Ha’Navi zachur la’tov.
עַל הַר־גָּבֹהַּ עֲלִי־לָךְ מְבַשֶּׂרֶת צִיּוֹן הָרִימִי בַכֹּחַ קוֹלֵךְ מְבַשֶּׂרֶת יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם הָרִימִי אַל־תִּירָאִי אִמְרִי לְעָרֵי יְהוּדָה הִנֵּה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. (Is.40:9)
May our days of mourning turn to rejoicing as we welcome the final geula, b’karov mamash. B’birkat Shabbat shalom.
