THE TEXT
"'Let not our father's name be lost to his clan just because he had no son! Give us a holding among our father's kinsmen.' Moses brought their case before Adonai. And Adonai said to Moses, 'The plea of Zelophehad's daughters is just; you should give them a hereditary holding among their father's kinsmen; transfer their father's share to them.' " (Numbers 27:4-6)

THE CONTEXT
Rashi, the Commentator of commentators, was a master of putting Torah in context. We will honor his teaching as we try to do the same.

The five daughters of Zelophehad: Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah went before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the chieftains, and the whole assembly, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting asking for the share of the Promised Land that would have been given their father had he lived. Moses, unsure if women could inherit property, brought the case before Adonai. Adonai ruled that if a man died without leaving a son, his property was to be transferred to his daughter.

THE THEME
Each week we will select one theme from the parashah that is directly relevant to our lives.

There are many lessons to be learned from the daughters of Zelophehad. These women exhibited confidence in asking for just treatment. They showed loyalty to their clan by asking that their father's portion of the land not be lost to it, and they displayed courage, determination and tenacity in going before Moses, Eleazar, the chieftains and all the people.

The traits of confidence, loyalty, courage, determination and tenacity propelled the daughters of Zelophehad to seek their portion in the Promised Land.

A SAGE SPEAKS
Each week we will learn from a Talmid Chacham - a disciple of the wise.

In the ancient world only men could inherit property. Ruling that women would be able to inherit was a wonderful innovation. This ruling came about because the daughters of Zelophehad advocated for themselves and God saw the justness of their request. Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah changed the way women would be treated in the matters of inheritance.

Individuals have the ability to create their own destiny. This is evidenced by the following teaching from the midrash: When the daughters of Zelophehad heard that the land was about to be divided among the tribes - but only for males, not for females- they gathered to take counsel. They decided that the mercy of human beings is not like the mercy of God. Human beings are apt to be more merciful to males than to females. But God's mercy is different - God's mercy is for males as well as females. The proof of this is found in the bible, " Adonai is good to all and God's tender mercies are over all God's works" (Psalms 145:9) (from The Book of Legends Sefer Ha-aggadah 97:114)

The midrash also says that the daughters of Zelophehad were tenacious. Rabbi Nathan taught that a women's tenacity is stronger than a man's. He points out that in previous chapters, when faced with adversity on the long trek through the desert, the men of Israel were ready to elect a new leader and head back to Egypt, being very willing to give up the Land (see Numbers 14:4), but it was the women of Israel who insisted on being given a part of the Promised Land (see Numbers 27:4). Rabbi Nathan saw that the women were focused on reaching and settling the Land in a way that the men were not. (From The Book of Legends Sefer Ha-aggadah 97:114)

THE TORAH AND YOU
Questions and/or activities for families:

1. With older children (10+)
   1. Make a list of all the positive human traits and characteristics included in this week's Table Talk.
      With the other Family Shabbat Table Talk participants take turns applying these words to members
      of your family.
      
      
   2. To extend activity one, read through newspapers and magazines to find contemporary examples of these traits. Create a display with the various traits you have identified listed on it and attach the newspaper and magazine examples you found.
      
      
   3. The midrash says that the sisters took counsel before they went before Moses and the people with their request. Ask for volunteers to play the roles of the five daughters and create the conversation they might have had.
      
      
   4. The midrash says that human beings are more inclined to show mercy to males than to females, while God is merciful to everyone whether male or female. Defend or critique this proposition.

2. With younger children (6-9)

1. Describe a time when you were loyal, courageous, determined or tenacious. What were the circumstances? What was the outcome?
   
   
2. Consider a difficult task you have been given. What did you need to do? Were you able to accomplish it? How did you do it? What personal traits or characteristics do you think helped you?
   
   
3. If someone had a hard job or assignment to do, what advice would you give him or her? How do you think the daughters of Zelophehad can be an example to each of us?