Devar/5769/Devarim
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עברית
English
Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father.' (Num 27:4)
The daughters of Tselofhad came with a complaint to Moshe: why shouldn't we get an inheritance from our father, since he did not produce a son? At first glance, this seems strange and even insolent of them -- after all, who are they to come with complaints against Moshe, God's prophet?
But from Moshe's response, and from God's response, one may learn a lot. First of all, Moshe received them with honor, and passed on their request to God for His answer. And God answered him, The daughters of Zelophehad speak right (ibid 7). What did He say? Not only that they were correct, but also that they were honest -- they spoke truth with a straightforward heart. And because of their great love for the Land, they opened a path to learn additional laws regarding inheritance, which had not been known until that time.
In addition: they came as a group publicly, in front of the entire congregation, to lodge their complaint. They did not come in secret, nor did they seclude themselves with Moshe in order to try to pervert the judgement. From their behavior one may learn what the correct manner of behavior is for proper Jewish women. That they only speak truthfully and with a whole heart. And that their speech and behavior be modest, even when they have public complaints to lodge.
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