Num. 8:1 - 12:16
Précis: The parasha begins with a description of the making of the seven-branched menorah, a central Jewish symbol. Next, the Levites are given specific directions for their duties. The parasha returns to narrative with a recounting of a second Passover celebration (required because some of the Israelites had been ritually impure when the first anniversary of Passover was celebrated). Following is a discussion of the making of silver trumpets. The cloud of God’s Presence lifts, and the march of the People through the wilderness of Sinai begins, led by the Ark of the Covenant. The people began to murmur, this time about a lack of meat. God provides, but the People are struck with a plague. This time, even Miriam and Aaron seem to have complaints about Moses, cast in terms of their critique about his “Cushite woman.” Moses is stressed by the demands of leadership.
Num. 12:13 “And Moses cried out to Adonai, saying ‘Oh God, heal her!’”
In this verse, Moses pleads with God to heal Miriam from her leprosy, a punishment from God because of her criticism of Moses “about the Cushite woman” and her statement that she, too, merits a direct connection with God.
Here is a sincere prayer by Moses (one of the very few explicit prayers noted in the Five Books). What is remarkable is that Moses has been wronged both personally and professionally by his older sister, and yet he pleads for her cure.
This is a lesson for all of us. Across the world, we see a rise in antisemitism (including within the United States) and we have all observed (and perhaps experienced) the “punishments” created by racism, sexism, and other baseless hatred. If Moses could pray for the cure of his sister under these circumstances (thereby forgiving her), can we not better treat our fellow human beings?
This is not a matter of loving one’s enemies (which actually has no real foundation in Jewish tradition). Instead, it is an expression of the importance of forgiveness when others have wronged us.
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