Believe it or not, the goal of the Jewish People is not to become stand-up comics, nor all-star investment bankers, nor to fill up the condos in South Florida. The goal of the Jewish People is to establish the Kingdom of G-d in the Holy Land.Having said that, let's study our weekly portion - Parashat Pinchas - about Zelophehad's five unmarried daughters. The Israelites were still in TransJordan but two tribes already wanted to desert while the rest were disputing how to divide the Land they were sure to conquer. Zelophehad was among those who died en route but his family was entitled to a plot. He had left no son who could inherit him, only daughters. The leaders of his tribe argued that unmarried girls could not be allowed to own landed property, because if they married out of the tribe their lands would pass into the possession of another tribe. Relations among Hebrew tribes were delicate - they were allies yet when God was not looking, they massacred each other.
It was a hard theoretical problem (remember, the farms they were fighting about were still occupied by illegal Canaanite natives) but Moses (with the help of God) solved it by allowing Zelophehad's daughters to marry anyone they wished, that is, anyone from their father's clan. Zelophehad's newly propertied daughters, following God's instructions, each choose a son of their uncles. And it all ended in a big happy wedding ceremony, the Alte Kacker Zelophehad would have enjoyed it, Mazal Tov!
16 comments:
yes, that seems to be the common thread in cousin marriage -- i.e. to keep the property in the family/clan/tribe. makes sense!
i wasn't familiar with the zelophehad story before now. thnx for sharing! (^_^)
you know, i've always thought it's a good thing i'm not jewish 'cause i'm somewhat afraid of heights and i would FREAK OUT if a group of people were bouncing me around on an uplifted chair at my wedding. would not have been a pretty sight. (~_^)
Who is that rabbi to speak for all of us? Perhaps one third or more of us ethnic Jews do not even believe in God or are uncertain of God's existence, so why would we care about "establishing the Kingdom of God in the Holy Land?" Most secular Jews don't put considerations of Jewish peoplehood or the world Jewish community first in their lives, nor should they. There isn't enough in it for them to do so, and if doing so means adopting ultra-Orthodox norms and standards of education, an impoverished and ignorant population we would be.
The pic is an illustration and in my opinion, there were no raised chairs in Zelophehad's daughters marriage. I hope I didnt turn hbd chick away from marrying a Jewish guy... :-)
So, is the goal of the Jewish people to fill up South Florida condos? Or to produce stand-up comics? What is the goal of the Jewish people?
So, is the goal of the Jewish people to fill up South Florida condos? Or to produce stand-up comics? What is the goal of the Jewish people?
If you don't believe in God or think that Jewish peoplehood or the world Jewish community is important to you, then what does being Jewish even mean in your life? Is it some quaint quirk, like having a half-Cherokee grandmother or an extra toe? If not, why?
An extra toe?? What's not to like?
Anon.
You have to wear special shoes if you have an extra toe.
You have to wear special shoes if you have an extra toe.
There's nothing not to like about having an extra toe. The point is, it doesn't mean anything when it comes to who you are. Nothing would be different if you had happened to be born with five toes.
When the Temple existed, you couldnt become Cohen HaGadol (the Chief Priest) with an extra toe. You had to be perfect.
When the Temple existed, you couldnt become Cohen HaGadol (the Chief Priest) with an extra toe. You had to be perfect.
Schoenberg said his violin concerto would require the violinists to evolve a sixth finger. A sixth toe is surely a step in the right direction.
Having listened to it a number of times, my conclusion is it requires a substantially altered ear as well.
-s.n.
It was not Arnold Schoenberg but Yascha Heifetz who said a violinist with six fingers would be required to play the concerto. I think no one played it yet. Humanity will have to evolve more.
Prof. J.,
You are correct and I was wrong on the first point, but re: the second:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHd9sa1q_xk
Careful inspection reveals Ms. Hahn not to have a sixth finger.
On the subject of six-finger solos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9XatkNa0ZA
Best,
s.n.
Nice.
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