Bha’alotcha

Summary of events

• Aaron is commanded to light the menorah to participate in the dedication of the Beit Hamikdash
  • Aaron and his descendants are given the task of lighting the 7 branch menorah. The princes got the opportunity to present lavish gifts (displaying their wealth and status) whereas Aaron did not. So he was given this task. G-d told Aaron that the menorah signifies not G-d as the eternal light, rather that Israel may preserve and prolong the light conferred on them by being G-d’s chosen, to provide an example to the world. But this is the triumph of spirituality, not by violence, or conquest, but through the spirit of G-d. Isiah’s gentle agency of light, illuminating the surrounding darkness. This was a new idea at a time when violence was the usual way of spreading new ideas, to ensure obeisance through fear of the consequences of not conforming.
• Laws of Pesach sheni
  • A second chance, if you like. It’s never too late.
• Complaining about the food and being punished for complaining
  • Commentators have a number of theories that justify punishment of the people: they were not in want, or fearing for their lives, but were simply asking for higher standards of care from G-d. They asked the question: can G-d really provide for our needs? And this, sages say, implied a questioning of the authority of G-d.
  • In modern times, this is akin to saying “be careful what you wish for”: there is no such thing as a free lunch and G-d does not display a sense of humour! It is also about the unreliability of memory: the people forgot all the negatives about life in Egypt and chose to remember the things that benefited them.
• Miriam is punished for criticising Moshe’s choice of wife: his wife was a Cushite woman, dark skinned, some say Ethiopian.
  • Is she being punished for expressing racist sentiments, is racism akin to a disease, in this case leprosy? Seems excessive. Moshe pleads with G-d to heal her, and Miriam is sent out of the camp for 7 days, but Israel stays in place and waits for her before moving on. Does this indicate passive resistance against Miriam’s treatment?

By Rosemary Silverman