Shabbat Pinchas
Torah:
Numbers 25:10 - 30:1 / Haftarah: I Kings 18:46 - 19:21
Judaism:
Pioneering Women’s Rights
|
Israeli-born
“Wonder Woman” Gal Gadot recently appeared in a short video celebrating
accomplished young Israeli women: an air force pilot, a marketing manager, a
physician, and a champion kite surfer (www.israel21c.org/watch-gal-gadots-salute-to-awesome-israeli-women).
Gadot, a former Miss Israel who has made it big in Hollywood for her role in
feature films including “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” readily agreed to
participate. The film was conceived by three female Israeli media students who
“wished to show the world and various audiences a different side of Israel,
instead of focusing on its landscapes or the Tel Aviv nightlife.” The video
highlights Israel’s hard work to create an environment where women can thrive
and succeed.
Israel’s
efforts to promote not only the rights of women, but also the importance of
women’s contribution to larger society, began long before the creation of the
modern Jewish state. In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Pinchas, as the Children
of Israel prepare to enter the Promised Land, Moses divided the land between
the families of the tribes of Israel. The five daughters of Tzelofehad
recognized that because their deceased father had no male heirs, their family
would not receive a portion of the Land. They petitioned Moses to recognize
their rights and, “Give to us a possession among the brethren of our father.”
(Numbers 27:4) Their petition is granted, as God told Moses, “The daughters of Tzelofehad
speak right: you shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among
their father’s brethren…” (verse 7)
Today, Israel
continues to advance the rights of women in Israeli society. Unlike any other
Middle Eastern nation, women are at the forefront of many aspects of Israeli
society. Israel has always had at least one woman on its Supreme Court and
Israel is the only country in the Middle East to elect a woman, Golda Meir, to
the position of Prime Minister. Currently, many senior positions in the Israeli
government, academia, and the armed forces are held by women.
Since its
founding, Israel has emerged as a leader in promoting gender equality with
strong support for universal rights. Like the daughters’ of Tzelofehad in the
desert, today Israeli women are propelling the nation forward as agents of
change, peace and prosperity.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
