In a remarkable story, the Torah relates the courage and the integrity of five women, known collectively as the daughters of Zelof'had. What makes this story remarkable is not only that the heroes are women, itself a rarity in the biblical age (and, alas, in our own as well!). What makes this tale truly astonishing is that it represents the earliest revision of biblical law. Here, within the Torah itself, God revises an earlier piece of divine legislation because of an overriding moral imperative.   Read more...

Rabbinic tradition provides a lovely 'bracha' (blessing) to recite when seeing a crowd of over 600,000 Jews. "Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, wise in secrets."  Why would we praise God for knowing secrets at such a moment?  Isn't the size and power of the crowd what is truly impressive?  Or the fact that the traditional number of Jews standing around the foot of Mount Sinai was 600,000, so that such a crowd today is a re-enactment of revelation?  Why focus on secrets?   Read more...