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BEGIN WITH A GRIN

What’s special about women?

The fact that they are smarter, more creative, more put-together than men.

What’s special about men?

The fact that they’re married to women!

RIGHTEOUS LAND DEMAND

This week’s parsha (Mattos-)Masei completes the book of Bamidbar. The Torah enumerates the forty-two journeys that the Jewish people made in the desert which prepared them for entering the Promised Land. A description of the land’s boundaries and the command about cities of refuge, along with the conclusion of the story of the daughters of Tzlofchod are an important part of “preparing the ground” (and the nation) for the big event.Let us focus on the story of the daughters of Tzlofchod, five pioneering women whose love for Eretz Yisrael was so deeply felt.

Machla, Noa, Chogla, Milka and Tirtza had begun the process to receive a portion in the land already in the previous parsha, Pinchas, but the story did not end until the end of our parsha. What can be learned from the daughters of Tzlofchod? What message is the Torah conveying through these women? It’s important to note that the completion of the book of Bamibar also represents, in a small way, the completion of the entire Torah! Because, after all, the book of Devarim is called, “Mishneh Torah,” a repetition of the Torah. It is Moshe’s speech to the Jewish people about everything that happened from when they left Egypt until that point, on the threshold of entering the land.So what can we learn from the “completion of the Torah” in parshas Masei?

And why does the Torah end with the story of the daughters of Tzlofchod? An important lesson can be learned from their very demand. Their asking for a portion in the land underscores the tremendous quality of Jewish women over the men, and their affection for Eretz Yisrael. While, time and again, the men searched for reasons and justifications to return to Egypt and not enter Eretz Yisrael, the women asked for just the opposite! They wanted and even demanded the Promised Land. Also, with the sin of the spies, the women, without exception, agreed that the “land is very, very good.”

The Medrash says that the women “were not with them (the spies) in their counsel.” They stayed with their love for the land and their faith in Hashem. The power of Jewish women is not just in their love for Eretz Yisrael. It also expresses the women’s loyalty to the will of Hashem. While the men sought spiritual reasons for why it was right to remain in the desert, “only here can we learn,” “only in this way can we pray,” the women embraced the truth and the G-dly will to settle the land and build a “dira ba’tachtonim” as G-d wants. They were aware of the fact that in a civilized land they will have to grind and knead, cook and bake, unlike in the desert where manna fell from the sky which was ready to eat without grinding, kneading or baking. They knew good and well that they would have to pay the price when entering the land and they were ready for that, willing and glad, because that was what G-d wanted!

RIGHTEOUS ROLE PLAY

This is connected with the spiritual source of Jewish women in general. Kabbala attributes the souls of males to G-d’s middos: chesed, gevura, tiferes, etc. The significance in the service of G-d is that the male represents man’s inner emotions, the love, fear, compassion. This is truly a lofty level in the service of G-d but it also has a prominent flaw, in that the world of emotion expresses man’s own existence, that which is good for me and what I like, what works for me and what doesn’t… The souls of women, on the other hand, come from the sefira of malchus.

The sefira of malchus represents kabbolas ol, devotion to G-d’s will, the ability to go beyond my ego. It’s not about what I want; it’s about what G-d wants! It’s not what is good for me, but what is good for Him! This is the great quality of Machla, Noa, Chogla, Milka and Tirtza and this is the terrific quality of every woman! This takes on even greater significance in connection with the future Geula. The Gemara says, “In the merit of the righteous women of that generation, the Jews were redeemed from Egypt.”

So too, with the future Geula, it will be in the merit of the righteous women of that generation, as our Sages say, “The generations are not redeemed except in the merit of the righteous women of the generation.” Based on what is explained in the writings of the Arizal, that the generation of the Geula is a reincarnation of the generation that left Egypt, we can say that the daughters of Tzlofchod of the desert are, actually, every woman and girl of this generation! In the merit of the righteous women of our generation, we will merit the Geula! In Chabad teachings, every spiritual quality requires work, and every level demands toil. So too with the Jewish women in our generation.

Women’s special ability, and their lofty spiritual source, needs to be expressed practically. In a pointed sicha dedicated to Jewish women, the Rebbe asks the question on everyone’s mind, “Why does the generation look as it does and why do the youth behave in such a reckless manner?” Unfortunately, many are lacking the spiritual sensitivity famously attributed to Jewish souls. Many are lacking the refinement of character of the Jewish people throughout the generations. Many are lacking the special qualities of the Chosen People.

And only Jewish women can fix this! There are two mitzvos known for their ability to change the purity of middos and the sanctity of the soul: family purity and the kashrus of food and drink. Both were given to pure, holy Jewish women! Being exceedingly careful with purity and very particular with kashrus can change our generation, our youth, from one extreme to another. A crucial role in this holy service was given to Jewish women. Therefore, the Torah ends the book of Bamidbar (and the entire Torah) with the story of the daughters of Tzlofchod, to teach us an important message about the lofty quality of Jewish women and their vital service in bringing the Geula and entering the Promised Land.

TO CONCLUDE WITH A STORY

We will end with a story that shows the power of a woman. Rabbi Gershon Klivansky related: Throughout the years that we were in Siberia, our “library” consisted of one book, a siddur. Even that would not have remained if not for the tremendous mesirus nefesh of my righteous mother a’h. It was when the KGB conducted a search of our shack in Siberia.

There was snow outside and despite the freezing cold they took the family outside so they could search the house. They found the worn siddur and wanted to take it with them. My mother, a skinny woman, did not even allow them to touch it with their impure hands. They fixed her with a serious look, which itself was no small threat for in those days it could end with one shot fired… Suddenly, a bullet was shot at her but, miraculously, it missed the target. I trembled in fear and I remember the dialogue between my mother and those cursed, evil people.

“What’s in this old book that you are grasping with all your might? “This precious book connects me with my Father in heaven.” They burst into disparaging laughter. “We are already living for decades without any such connection.” “How you live, I don’t know,” said my mother. “What I do know is that I would be unable to live for even a moment. without the siddur. As for you, it is difficult to call a life of that sort life. Needless to say, the siddur remained with us!

Good Shabbos!

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