Pinchas 5773

Zelophechad fathered five daughters and no sons.  Since he died without male heir, his property would pass outside the clan.  The daughters, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milchan, and Tirzah protest their exclusion and bring their case before Moses.  They plead their suit front of the High Priest, chieftains, and entire community (Numbers 27:2).   What chutzpah to think they had standing!  What chutzpah to think they were entitled to anything!  What chutzpah to speak to Moses!  What chutzpah to think they could change the system!

Moses, uncertain of the correct response, “brought their case before God” (27:5).  God agrees with the women, and the law is changed. 

Thus begins a long and noble tradition of appealing injustice.

This week, five brave plaintiffs’ suits were heard at the highest court of the land.  One of them was Edith “Edie” Windsor, widow of Thea Spyer.  Because the Federal government did not recognize their marriage, Edie was required to pay federal estate taxes upon Thea’s death.  What chutzpah to think she had standing!  What chutzpah to think she was entitled to anything!  What chutzpah to sue the United States government!  What chutzpah to think an act of Congress could be overturned!

And yet, this week, it was.

When we see or an experience an injustice, we must work to fix it.  There will no doubt be obstacles.  Nonetheless, we are obliged to work and appeal and protest and try and laugh and scream and appeal and learn and appeal again and again until the wrong is made right.  It’s chutzpah, and it is also tzedek.