G-d’s Gentle Way of Moving Along Women’s Rights

The plain text reflects the following story: In this parsha, it is determined how land will be allotted once the people get to the promised land. It will be allotted by the male lines, according to tribe.

But a man named Tzlofchad left five daughters and no sons. The daughters petition Moshe, saying that while some died in the desert due to their having argued for leadership of the people or lighting foreign fires, their father did no such thing. But by not allotting any land to his heirs, his name would be blotted out.

Moshe, rather than dismissing these concerns, brought them before G-d, WHO AMENDS THE LAWS OF INHERITANCE, not just for the daughters of Tzlofchad but FOR ALL TIME!

Even just reading the plain text (without the understanding of tradition), this was REVOLUTIONARY, particularly in that time and area (even now in that area of the world…). From the time we crossed into Israel, the land of any man who died without male heirs went to his daughters!

This was not forgotten: one of the FIRST things that is mentioned in the book of Joshua is that the daughters of Tzlofchad receive their land.

But the plain text is just the beginning.

According to Rabbi Mandel here in Fort Worth, Texas (and I say this because I have not had a chance to look at the traditional commentators on this yet), G-d intended for women to be able to inherit land (people could always leave any non-land property to the person(s) of their choice, of any gender). But G-d chose for this to be the way in which the rules of inheritance would be revealed. Why, and what are we to learn?

Even though G-d’s will may not be changeable, as the plain text implies, but reflecting such a story, in the way that it was written (after all, the Torah does not include EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED, it could have simply given us the final rule), I believe we are to learn that:

• It is always worth speaking up; give people (and G-d) a chance to do what is fair;
• When you see that a rule (or law) doesn’t work in a specific instance, consider changing the rule itself and not just making an exception for the people you know;
• Take the time to explain your reasoning; and
• Women matter as much as men, even if society doesn’t reflect this value

There is so much more to say, but this week is almost over. So for now, these are my thoughts. I would love to hear yours.