PE Progressive Jewish Congregation

✡️ On the 4 July, we read Parshat Pinchas which is found in the Book of Numbers, read from 25:10 - 30:1; which is the 41st weekly Torah portion

There are a number of key events which occur during this time whilst the Israelites were encamped on the plains of Moab, then known as Sh*ttin, which was located on the eastern border of the Jordan River

Laws of Inheritance

The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years and were now on the plains of Moab when the laws of inheritance where permanently changed

✡️ Ha’shem commanded Moses to take a census, which excluded woman and only counted males above 20 years old and who were fit for military service

Zelophehad who had died in the wilderness, had five daughters and no sons and when the land rights were assigned exclusively to the men; his daughters petitioned Moses as they felt it was unjust under the existing rules and their family line would lose its portion of land

✡️ As Moses, himself was not able to render a judgement, he brought this matter to Ha’shem, and it was decreed that the daughter’s concern where legitimate, and they would be allocated their share in the Promised Land

“Like sheep without a shepherd”
This is read in Numbers: 27:17

Moses requested a leader who would care for the community ‘like a shepherd’ and Ha’shem told Moses that Joshua was “a man of spirit” and he had shown empathy, humility and had served Ha’shem, by accompanying Moses to Mount Sinai and his dedication to the Tabernacle

✡️ A thought for today: the daughters of Zelophehad did not riot and nor did they insult the inheritance system, they gave a logical case based upon justice and fairness

They also acted in faith with forward thinking of the future, whilst living in tents, to determine not only their lives but those that followed them

✡️ Joshua did not simply become a leader overnight, it took years of serving, dedication and learning to become a leader who could lead the Israelites finally into the Promised Land

Plan for your future, have the strength and patience to achieve all the good the world has to offer and give back to others. There are always others who have less and struggle with battles that we may never encounter

Shabbat Shalom ❤️

✡️ Parashat Bamidbar is read on 16 May from the fourth book of the Torah and can be found in the Book of Numbers 1:1 - 4:20
Bamidbar means “ To stand Alone” or “ In the Wilderness “

✡️ This Parasha focuses on organizing the Israelites from being a disorganized group of free slaves into a purposeful and structured nation, which moved them from chaos to structure

✡️ Moses was commanded by Ha’Shem to undertake a census and do a headcount of of all the men aged from 20 to 60 years old who were eligible for military service

✡️ We all count today as souls, as the Israelites were counted during the census
✡️ This portion also remind us that we are all counted and we matter individually
✡️ We are all special, we all have our own gifts to offer to one another, especially Love ❤️ and peace ☮️
✡️ No matter how different we are, we keep our shared values and our holiness as the core of our existence
✡️ Make a space for quiet time, free yourself from digital noise and any distractions
✡️ Observing Shabbat is a way to unplug from the world

Shabbat Shalom ❤️

✡️ This weeks Parashat: Behar - Bechukotai
Is read on 9 May from Leviticus: 25:1 - 27:34
It is a double portion and concludes the reading of Leviticus

The Children of Israel were sustained with “Manna from Heaven” When Ha’Shem commanded that the Israelites keep Shabbat, on that Friday, a double portion of manna fell from Heaven and this double portion, provided and supported the Israelites on their day of rest

✡️ Behar focuses on the Sabbatical and Jubilee year for the purposes of giving the people and the land a rest

✡️ Bechukotai concludes with a list of blessings for those following Hashem’s law and warnings for those who disregard the laws

✡️ Tomorrow is 22 Lyar 5786, it marks the anniversary of the day that the Israelites
were commanded to observe Shabbat. It is our tradition to have two loaves of challah, which represents a double portion of manna eaten with a meal on Friday and Saturday

Tomorrows date is a historical and spiritual date as it is a direct link to 1313 BCE when Ha’Shem commanded us to keep Shabbat as a day of rest

✡️ Shabbat Shalom ❤️