Courage to change the world

Women seldom feature in the Torah, less often by name. And rarer than both is when their words are recorded. When that happens, we need to pay extra attention. So, despite this week’s Torah portion being named after Pinchas, whose actions are described in last week’s parshah, it’s in the latter half that we meet five remarkable women – Machla; Noah; Tirzah; Hoglah; and Milcah – the daughters of Tzlofchad.

“And the daughters of Tzlofchad … stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the chieftains, and the whole assembly, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and they said …” (Num 27:2) They take the bold step of leaving their tents and approaching the seat of power – the Tent of Meeting where the decision-makers of the day sit – and demand that they are able to inherit the land of their father.

In their case, there was no male heir, so it would seem the right and just ruling for their case to be accepted. But it would require a change in the newly-developing Jewish law, and Moshe Rabbeinu, Moses our teacher, throws it upstairs to let G-d handle it. And indeed, with G-d’s blessing, the law is changed so that women, in specific circumstances, are able to inherit from their father.

It would be premature to see this as a victory for feminism or egalitarian law. In fact, a few chapters later, we see how the men of their tribe petition Moses to require any daughters who inherit land to marry within their father’s clan, which is also granted. But this is a victory for courageous leadership and for those with less power speaking up to those who have more.

Rashi, following the Midrash Tanchuma remarkably teaches that, “Their eyes saw what Moses’ did not.” (commentary to Num 27:7). In other words, were it not for their intervention, the law wouldn’t have been interpreted correctly. This doesn’t teach us that Moses was upstaged or wasn’t our greatest teacher of Torah. It does teach us, however, that no person alone is perfect no matter how gifted, and that in a healthy community we need to hear from many voices in order to comprehend the truth fully.

The daughters’ bravery leads to a deeper and more nuanced understanding of inheritance law. This Friday, 18 July, we mark Mandela Day, remembering the courage and contribution of a leader who wasn’t prepared to sit by while his country suffered under apartheid. Mandela spoke out at great personal risk, and was “rewarded” with 27 years in prison. But that didn’t stop his activism, and he continued to mentor leaders and serve his people from jail on Robben Island.

As we mark his contribution, the same week we mark the daughters of Tzlofchad’s, may we be inspired to take on the cause of justice, to speak truth to power, and to contribute to making our community and our country fairer for all who live in them.

• Rabbi Greg Alexander is part of the team that leads the Cape Town Progressive Jewish Congregation templeisrael.co.za