Pinjas 5775 - English

Rabino Darío Feiguin

Congregación B´nei Israel, Costa Rica

“Here and Now”

The words from the Torah were spoken at different points in history, but their message is sharp and relevant for every time and place. Unless we consider these tales as simple children’s stories about our beginnings as a people or we cling to the cosmetic details instead of the essence of the message, the Torah becomes a piercing voice throughout Space and Time.  

In this sense, it trascends towards everything here and everything now, where we are able to listen to what it tells us, what it teaches us, and how it guides us.  

An example of how the Torah becomes relevant here and now appears in the complaint of the daughters of Zelophehad.

In ancient times, property was inherited from father to son.  When this man Zelophehad died, he left only daughters.  Then, the Torah tells us, the daughters of Zelophehad came forward and presented their claim to Moses, stating they considered the law to be unfair.  Moses did not know what to answer.  It was a new situation and the leader did not know what to do.  So he took the matter before God.  According to the Rabbis, this was one of the few moments when Moses did not know the law, but it shows his greatness through his sensitivity.  

Can you imagine what the ruling was?

Of course, even though it was not legislated yet, the Torah would not allow such an injustice.  The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad was accepted and they inherited their father’s lands.  And so it was decreed from that point on, in a reform to the ancient biblical custom.  

There are many new situations not contemplated by the law.  Many of them are just causes.  One of these, for me, has to do with everyone being equal before the law, including same sex couples.  It is an injustice and shows a lack of sensitivity to legally discriminate against someone due to their sexual inclination.  

And Moses’ example in this week’s Parashah shows us the way.  It is not in the easy things and in the things we like where we can show greatness.  It is precisely in the uncomfortable, in the difficult issues, where we must play it all for the biblical value of Justice.  For I am convinced that the Torah and Judaism are to be lived with joy, but at the same time to be taken seriously.  

It does not make me more Jewish to come to Temple for an hour and a half on Fridays, but it does make me more Jewish to live my life according to values and principles.  It does make me more Jewish to break with mediocrity and to take a stand for what I feel and think.  It makes me much more Jewish.  

All else is commentary.  

Rabbi Darío Feiguin