Welcome to the short, practical Lelamed Weekly Dvar (and Daily Aliya).
Please consider forwarding this to others, and I hope you enjoy... Shabbat
Shalom.
Dvar Torah for Pinchas 2nd Aliya
Nestled within the latest census is an obscure mention, “and the name of
Asher’s daughter was Serach” (26:46). Rashi points out that she was one of
the original seventy that entered Egypt, so she is mentioned here as having
survived two hundred and ten years in Egypt and forty years in the desert.
Although surviving all those years is quite an accomplishment, why does the
Torah mention it here in the middle of a census? Perhaps more importantly,
how did Serach survive all this time? What is her secret?
Ramban and other commentaries suggest that the Torah mentions unique
situations, such as the daughters of Tzlofchod who, having had no males to
claim an inheritance, requested their father’s portion of land in Israel.
What makes Serach unique is two things: 1) She was born to Asher’s wife
from a different husband, and 2) although her name was Serach, she was
known as “the daughter of Asher,” known for her pious and kind ways
(Chizkuni). This highlights how far having a name associated with kindness
can take us. As the “and” that begins our sentence emphasizes, we are more
than just names and numbers in history books, but a collection of the
actions and specifically acts (of kindness) that define us.
Shlomo Ressler
Quotation of the week:
"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots
spring up and make new trees." - Amelia Earhart
Welcome to the short, practical Lelamed Weekly Dvar (and Daily Aliya).
Please consider forwarding this to others, and I hope you enjoy... Shabbat
Shalom.
_______________________________________________
Dvar Torah for Pinchas 2nd Aliya
Nestled within the latest census is an obscure mention, “and the name of
Asher’s daughter was Serach” (26:46). Rashi points out that she was one of
the original seventy that entered Egypt, so she is mentioned here as having
survived two hundred and ten years in Egypt and forty years in the desert.
Although surviving all those years is quite an accomplishment, why does the
Torah mention it here in the middle of a census? Perhaps more importantly,
how did Serach survive all this time? What is her secret?
Ramban and other commentaries suggest that the Torah mentions unique
situations, such as the daughters of Tzlofchod who, having had no males to
claim an inheritance, requested their father’s portion of land in Israel.
What makes Serach unique is two things: 1) She was born to Asher’s wife
from a different husband, and 2) although her name was Serach, she was
known as “the daughter of Asher,” known for her pious and kind ways
(Chizkuni). This highlights how far having a name associated with kindness
can take us. As the “and” that begins our sentence emphasizes, we are more
than just names and numbers in history books, but a collection of the
actions and specifically acts (of kindness) that define us.
Shlomo Ressler
_____________________________________________
Quotation of the week:
"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots
spring up and make new trees." - Amelia Earhart