Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
An Unusual Request for an Inheritance
The feeling of missing out on an incredible opportunity is something that can be quite painful. That was the situation the five daughters of Tzelafchad faced. Their father had passed away in the desert and, to their dismay, they were told that they would not inherit any land in Eretz Yisrael (Israel). They yearned so deeply to inherit part of this sacred land and continue their family’s connection to it. So, they approached Moshe (Moses) and implored that they, too, be given an inheritance.
After consulting with Hashem (God), Moshe was told that the daughters were correct and should be awarded a family inheritance. As a result, a new law was established: whenever there were no male heirs, daughters would inherit the family’s ancestral land.
Why the Daughters of Tzelafchad Loved Eretz Yisrael
What was the driving force behind the sisters’ intense longing?
Our Sages teach that it stemmed from their great love of Eretz Yisrael (Sifri 133). Their request was not motivated by a desire for physical possessions, but by their tremendous appreciation of the holiness of Eretz Yisrael and its unique potential for spiritual growth. They could not bear to forgo the priceless opportunity of having a share in the land that Hashem had given His people.
The Torah teaches that Hashem pays special attention to Eretz Yisrael, tending to it with a unique level of hashgachah pratit, or Divine Providence: “It is a land which Hashem your God inquires about; the eyes of Hashem your God are always upon it…” (Devarim 11:12). The Sages explain that Eretz Yisrael is considered the highest of all lands (Sifri, Shoftim 9), and the Gemara teaches that even the very air of Eretz Yisrael makes one wise (Bava Batra 158b). The daughters of Tzelafchad cherished these spiritual gifts and longed to have a share in them.
From Ordinary to Extraordinary: The Power of Intention
Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz (Sichot Mussar, pp. 385-386) teaches that the only way we can truly benefit from the holiness of Eretz Yisrael is by appreciating it. He writes that it is surprising that so many Jews are fortunate enough to live in Eretz Yisrael, yet fail to appreciate its holiness.
Rabbi Mordechai Gifter possessed an extraordinary love and appreciation for Eretz Yisrael and went to great lengths to relocate his yeshivah (school for Torah study) there. After extensive planning, the yeshivah moved from Cleveland to Telz-Stone. Unfortunately, for various reasons, the move did not succeed, and they were forced to return to America.
Yet from that point onward, Rav Gifter and his family did not move back into their home. Instead, they lived in an apartment in the yeshivah dormitory. Rav Gifter’s longing for Eretz Yisrael was so profound that he simply could not bring himself to establish a permanent residence anywhere else.
Turning Everyday Actions into Mitzvot
Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman teaches that the lesson of the daughters of Tzelafchad extends far beyond Eretz Yisrael and applies to every aspect of our Godly service. Their request appeared to be an ordinary request for an inheritance, yet because it was motivated by a pure desire for spiritual growth and closeness to Hashem, it became an eternal mitzvah (Torah commandment) recorded in the Torah.
The same is true throughout our daily lives. We all have the ability to elevate seemingly ordinary actions into mitzvot, Torah commandments. The action itself may appear mundane, but the intention behind it transforms it into something extraordinary (Yemaleh Pi Mishalotecha, vol. 1). For example, if before eating or sleeping we have in mind that we are doing so in order to have the strength to serve Hashem, those ordinary acts become mitzvot (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 231:1).
The Three Weeks: An Extraordinary Opportunity Hidden in Ordinary Days
This idea is especially relevant as we enter the period of The Three Weeks of mourning. With all of its restrictions, it can sometimes feel like a period we simply want to get through so that we can continue enjoying our summer. Yet that perspective causes us to miss the incredible opportunity hidden within these days.
Just as the daughters of Tzelafchad refused to forgo the spiritual opportunity of inheriting Eretz Yisrael, we, too, should not allow these days to pass by as though they are merely an inconvenient part of the calendar. They are infused with tremendous holiness and spiritual potential. They are not ordinary days that we should simply try to get through, but extraordinary days that can bring us closer to Hashem if we appreciate what they contain.
Finding Hashem During the Bein HaMetzarim
Interestingly, there are twenty-one days from Rosh Hashanah until Hoshana Rabbah—a unique period during which we can come close to Hashem and attain atonement for our sins. The Maharsha (Bechorot 8b) writes that these correspond to the twenty-one days between Shivah Asar B’Tammuz and Tisha B’Av, which are likewise a unique period during which we can achieve forgiveness.
Based on this, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel teaches, “During these days one can cling to the Shechinah (Divine Presence), reach tremendous spiritual heights, and even merit atonement for one’s sins, just like during the Yamim Nora’im (High Holidays)” (Sichot Rav Nosson Tzvi: Mo’adim, p. 264).
Similarly, the Ba’al Shem Tov teaches that when we strengthen our avodat Hashem (service of God) during these days and overcome the temptations of the yetzer hara, the evil inclination, we can merit a special closeness to Hashem.
His primary disciple, the Maggid of Mezritch, finds an allusion to this in the verse, כל רודפיה השיגוה בין המצרים (lit. All her pursuers overtook her within the straits), which the Midrash explains refers to the period between Shivah Asar B’Tammuz and Tisha B’Av. The word רודפיה (her pursuers) can be read as רודף קה—one who pursues Hashem. The verse can therefore be understood as: “Whoever pursues Hashem can find Him during the Bein HaMetzarim (the name given to these three weeks of mourning).”
By Rabbi Daniel Shasha, author of “Living Appreciation”
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