Every week my friend Barbara Sofer shares a reflection about the parsha ha'shevuah (weekly Torah portion) on her Facebook page. They always give me something to think about so I asked her if I could share some of them with you and she graciously gave me permission. Barbara is an award-winning writer and lecturer who writes a bi-weekly column for the Friday Jerusalem Post. Below is her reflection this week as well as a link to our Torah portion: Parashat Pinchas (Numbers 25:10 - 30:1).
Reflection: In this week's parsha the women Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirza are mentioned by name when they ask about receiving their father's inheritance. Once again, Biblical heroines are those who speak up and question... activist role models for all of us.