Pinchas
Numbers 25:10 – 30:1

By Torah Blogger, Jen Smith

In a portion named for a man who acted in self-righteous, judgmental violence, it is the voices of five courageous women – Machlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah – that offer us one of the Torah’s most powerful lessons in spiritual inheritance, sacred change, and universal justice.

The daughters of Zelophehad, left without a father nor brothers to “take care of them,” approach Moses with a chutzpadik question: Why should our father’s name be lost just because he had no sons? In other words: Why should their family be erased because of a patriarchal culture that overlooked women?

Rather than dismiss the ladies outright, Moses brings the case before God. And what does the Divine say?

Ken benot Tzelofchad dovrot  (the daughters of Zelophehad speak rightly).

God not only agrees with their claim, but the Torah itself is changed because they had the courage to speak up.

This moment models the core Jewish value of tzedek (justice) as an evolving force that must bend and grow to accommodate the needs of the moment. These women were not just claiming land, they were reclaiming dignity, family legacy, and a place in the narrative of the people. Their bravery reminds us that justice begins with asking questions, especially when the world tells you to stay silent.

They also exemplify ometz lev – moral courage of the heart. It would have been the norm for women to believe their fate was in the hands of tribal elders and accept (or at best, careless) ruling, but the women believed that should be treated equally as members of the community, not simply peripheral assets. So the daughters of Zelophehad stood at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting filled with clarity and changed history forever.

In Jewish mysticism, the concept of yerushah (inheritance) is not only about property. It’s about spiritual transmission. The daughters weren’t just asking for a piece of earth; they were claiming their rightful share in kedushah, in holiness, in belonging to the story of the Children of Israel.  Kabbalistically, they represent the power of the Shekhinah – the feminine Divine Presence – rising to be seen and included.

The Zohar teaches that Divine wisdom flows through balance: between masculine and feminine, justice and mercy, structure and transformation. These women tipped the scales toward wholeness. They remind us that when marginalized voices rise, it’s not just politics – it’s prophecy.

Today, their story reverberates in every movement for equity and dignity. We see it when women claim their space in Torah learning, leadership, and public ritual. We see it in every person who approaches the “Tent of Meeting” of today, whether that be synagogues, schools, courtrooms, and boardrooms and asks: Why not me? Why not us?

And just like in the Torah, the answer begins with listening. The power of Moses in this moment is not his authority, it is his humility. He pauses and brings the question to God, opening recognizing that he doesn’t have all the answers. What a sacred model for leadership to have the courage to say: I need to listen. I need to learn!

The daughters of Zelophehad didn’t break the system, they fortified it; they didn’t fight for a place at the table… they reminded us that the table was always meant to be bigger and more inclusive.

This Shabbat, may we be reminded that the Torah isn’t just about the past, it’s a living guide to which we all have the power to contribute. And sometimes, holiness is hidden in small acts of bravery like having the courage to raise your hand and say: This matters. I belong here. Let me be heard.

Shabbat Shalom.