Rabbi Philip Weintraub
Congregation Agudas Israel
June 28, 2014--Parshat Chukat
This week’s parsha is jam-packed with action. It is one of those weeks when I am grateful for the triennial cycle. By limiting our discussion to one section, I am not forced to decide between the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, between Moses striking the rock and Gd’s response, between the rituals surrounding death and words of war. Do not even get me started on the fact that today is Rosh Hodesh, the celebration of the new month, and a monthly holiday traditionally associated with women!
Today we have gathered to celebrate Shabbat, but we have also gathered to celebrate three woman. Not long after I began at CAI, I started a crash course in Hebrew reading. Since then, I have run that course a couple times, some more successfully than others! This particular groups grew and shrunk over the last three years, but it never stopped learning. Carol, Shirley and Phyllis have devoted a tremendous amount of time to learning and growing in their Jewish lives. Coming from different, yet similar backgrounds, they ran with this opportunity. Practicing multiple times a week, they began to recognize the letters, vowels, words and trope of Hebrew. We practiced melodies and songs, prayers and learned from the Torah itself. Even more impressive is that starting in August, we will be continuing our studies--focusing on navigating the prayer book, the Siddur--discovering the meanings beneath the prayers--as well as how to lead them!
Over these last few years, we have journeyed together through good times and more challenging ones, which makes this parsha even more appropriate. While it is not a parsha of celebration, the loss of Miriam resonates through the parsha. When Miriam dies, there is no more water. The people are angry, which upsets Moses. He reacts angrily in getting them water from the rock, forgetting to praise Gd, forgetting to take a breath, forgetting to pause, forgetting to regain his composure. He gets them water from the rock, but he does it all wrong! Without Miriam’s influence, he is not at his best.
In different Jewish communities, the influence of women is seen in different ways. In some communities, like ours, women are on the bimah. They teach, give sermons, read Torah, lead services and bring the breadth and depth of their knowledge into the public sphere. In other Jewish communities, women do not sing in public, their influence is still great, teaching their children, learning certain aspects of Torah and overseeing homes and family life. At the same time, I am proud to be in a community like ours. Giving men and women equal opportunities allows for the greatest understanding of Torah. We were all standing at Mount Sinai. We all heard the revelation from the Holy One. I want to hear Torah from every person standing there, not just half of the Jewish world!
The absence of Miriam, the loss of life-giving and life-sustaining water (which in tractate Ta’anit is compared to Torah), shows how essential Miriam was to the journey in the wilderness. Without her prophecy, without her song, without her water and Torah, the people Israel were lost. Her brothers, Moses and Aaron were lost. Moses did not know how to react to the mourning people and not long thereafter, Aaron dies, too!
In these last few years, we have seen how Torah is to life as water is. It is essential. Studying our holy traditions connects us with our souls, brings meaning to our life and helps us weather the storms and challenges of life.
I look forward to continuing my studies with Carol, Phyllis and Shirley. In recent weeks we have seen others read Torah or give Divrei Torah on the anniversaries of their B’nai Mitzvah. I hope this trend will continue. If you want to re-learn your parsha, I am always glad to help. If you never had the chance, I am glad to start another cohort!
There is so much blessing from our Torah, from hearing the stories of our heritage and the stories of your lives. Please share them with us. Shabbat Shalom!
ps Yes, I could have spoken about the history of women's scholarship and teaching. This was a personal anecdote, not a scholarly paper.
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