I remember learning in depth some of the laws of
inheritance at the Conservative Yeshiva and how they stemmed from this week’s
parsha about Zelophechad’s daughters who wanted to carry on their father’s name
and inherit a portion of the land of Israel.
They brought their request before Moshe, who in turn passed their
request on to God, who replies: “The daughters of Zelophechad speak
properly. You shall surely give them
possession of inheritance among the brothers of their father” (Numbers 27:7).
But laws of inheritance aside, I remember the story
of Zelophechad’s daughters being used as an example to inspire us, as
Conservative Jews at KOACH to stand up for what we feel is good and right, even
if not the norm (I can’t remember if this was taught by a rabbi their or was
brought up by a fellow student, but it stuck with me either way). It certainly was not the “norm” for daughters
to receive their father’s inheritance, but Hashem deemed the daughters of
Zelophechad’s request to be good: “The daughters of Zelophechad speak properly.”
I and many others who were involved in KOACH as
participants and leaders, often felt that we too were working towards a Jewish
community that was more “right”, more complete, more holy, than what is
currently available on campus…and in the broader Jewish world. Towards what many called a “pluralistic
halachic community.” A community of
acceptance, observance, and Torah learning.
But as I read over the text of my aliyah (along with
rabbinic commentaries) again this afternoon, I was struck by what comes
immediately after the story with Zelophechad’s daughters. The torch of Jewish leadership is passed from
Moshe to Joshua before the Israelites enter the land of Israel – a land which Moshe
himself, our leader for 40 years, will not be allowed to enter. According to Rashi, these two passages were
placed side-by-side because Moshe may have thought that, just as the daughters’
request was received favorably by God, that God might also grant his request to
be allowed to enter the land of Israel.
Instead, God reiterated his previous response hat Moshe would not lead
the Jews into Israel: “You shall see [the Land] and shall be gathered unto your
people, you, too, as Aaron your brother was gathered in; because you rebelled
against My word in the Wilderness of Zin, in the assembly’s strife, to sanctify
Me at the water before their eyes” (Numbers 27:13-14). Moshe, like Zelophechad’s daughters, directed
his heartfelt plea for what he felt was right, even earned and deserved, to
God. But his response was not as he
hoped; God said “no”.
Like Zelophechad’s daughters and Moshe, we must give
voice to what our inner self tells us to be right – but our voice must be
directed to the right place. Zelophechad’s
daughters voiced their concerns to the leader of the Jewish people, Moshe, and
then God Himself. His answer to them confirmed
that, yes, their inner thoughts were appropriate and they were allowed an
inheritance. But we must realize that
the answer will not always be “yes”.
Sometimes – like with Moshe being allowed to enter Israel – the answer
is “no”. And when the answer is “no” we
must accept that as equally as when the answer is “yes”. Moshe, when he is told he will not be
entering Israel, responds with a prayer for the Jewish people: “May Hashem, God
of the spirits of all flesh appoint a man over the assembly, who shall go out
before them and come in before them, who shall take them out and bring them in;
and let the assembly of Hashem not be like sheep that have no shepherd” (Numbers
27:16-17). Despite his desire for the
answer to be otherwise, Moshe accepts God’s answer that he will not be allowed
to enter Israel, and continues to be the leader of the Jewish people, looking
out for their best interests even when he experiences personal
disappointment.
Interestingly enough, I think that may be one of the
reasons (among many) I drifted away from Conservative Judaism. Sometimes it just seemed that many halachic
leaders of the movement were just not able to accept a “no” answer. Their voice wasn’t always directed to the right
place and their answers didn’t always come from the right place. Nonetheless, I would not be the Jew I am
today without the wonderful experiences I had and the wonderful people I have
met and become friends with through KOACH, the Conservative Yeshiva, and the broader
Conservative Movement. The loss of KOACH will certainly be felt on campuses across the country.
