בס״ד ּפִ ֽ י ְ נ חָ ס PINCHAS

In loving memory of Tzemach ben Yisrael z"l

Volume 34 | #37 “God said to Moshe, ‘Go up to this mountain of 3 July 2021 Avarim and see the Land that I have given to 23 Tammuz 5781 the Children of Israel” Shabbat ends: (Bemidbar 27:12) London 10.25pm Sheffield 10.57pm Glasgow 11.33pm Edinburgh 11.25pm Birmingham 10.39pm Southport 11.07pm Hull 10.57pm Jerusalem 8.31pm

Shabbat Mevarachim Rosh Chodesh Av is next Shabbat

Please look regularly at the social media and websites of the US, Tribe and your community for ongoing updates relating to Coronavirus as well as educational programming and community support. You do not need to sign into Facebook to access the US Facebook page. The US Coronavirus Helpline is on 020 8343 5696. INSIDE: May God bless us and the Lessons From the Daughters whole world. of Tzelofchad Pinchas by Alissa Symon Artscroll p.876 Hertz p.686 Technology, Food and Soncino p.932 by Joel Kenigsberg Haftarah Artscroll p.1192 Hertz p.710 Reflections Soncino p.968 by Rabbi Daniel Roselaar This Shabbat we read the haftarah for Matot, Blood Libels not Pinchas. by Pnina Savery Daf Hashavua Sidra breakdown Lessons From ּפִֽינְְחָ ס Pinchas the Daughters 8th Sidra in: of Tzelofchad מִ ּבְ דְ ּבַ ר Bemidbar by Alissa Symon, University Jewish Chaplain of Cambridge and East Anglia By Numbers: Parashat Pinchas question. First, the verse opening 168 verses is filled with many the story says that the daughters 1,887 words important and curious of Tzelofchad came forward— passages, but the part ”vatikravna” (Bemidbar 27:1). 7,853 letters that almost always Then, the second verse states grabs my attention is the discussion that they stood before Moshe— between the daughters of Tzelofchad ”vata’amodna” (ibid v.2). Since the Headlines: and Moshe. They come to Moshe, Torah usually speaks concisely, Elazar HaKohen, the chieftains and we might question the necessity Joshua’s the congregation to ask for a holding of using both verbs. This apparent appointment in Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). repetition underlines the activism of The choice of verbs in this the daughters in their quest to seek as leader passage raises an interesting an answer from Moshe and God

In loving memory of Moshe ben Avraham Zarach z"l

Sidra Summary 1st Aliya (Kohen) – Bemidbar 25:10-26:4 God tells Moshe that Pinchas, Aharon’s grandson, is to become a Kohen in recognition United Synagogue Daf Hashavua of his righteous actions in stopping the public display of immorality described at the Produced by US Living & Learning end of last week’s sidra. The names of the two offenders are given – Zimri from the together with the Rabbinical Council of tribe of Shimon and Kozbi, a Midianite princess. God commands Moshe to smite the the United Synagogue Midianites as retribution for luring the Israelites into idol worship and immorality. Editor-in-Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis Moshe and Elazar, the Kohen , are told to take a census of men above the age Editorial and Production Team: of 20. Rabbi Daniel Sturgess, Rabbi Michael Laitner, Rebbetzen Nechama Davis, Point to Consider: Why was Pinchas not already considered a Kohen if he was a Joanna Rose grandson of Aharon? (see Rashi to 25:13) Available also via email US website www.theus.org.uk ©United Synagogue 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 26:5-51 To sponsor Daf Hashavua please The main descendants of each tribe are listed, as well as the overall number within contact Danielle Fox on 020 8343 6261, each tribe, as counted in the census. When detailing the tribe of Reuven, the Torah or [email protected] recalls that Datan and Aviram were from this tribe and that the ground swallowed If you have any comments or questions regarding Daf Hashavua please email them in Korach's rebellion. The overall census number is 601,730. [email protected] regarding the inheritance of their This Midrash is wonderful because it teaches us father’s land. that the chiefs and judges understood that a new The Midrash Tanchuma (early rabbinic teachings) on our parasha situation, a new question, had arisen, and out says that the daughters of Tzelofchad of humility they passed the query on since they began their journey to find a solution recognised it was above their station. by appealing first to the ‘sarei asarot’, the chiefs of the tens, the case of the daughters of Tzelofchad.” halacha would instruct them to do in lowest echelon of judges appointed This Midrash is wonderful their situation. by Moshe. Their response was that because it teaches us that the chiefs The Torah is teaching us some they did not know how to rule on and judges understood that a new valuable lessons. Firstly, trying to fully issues of inheritance and therefore situation, a new question, had arisen, understand to the best of our ability referred them to the chiefs of the and out of humility they passed the what God wants, to clarify the halacha fifties, “who, seeing the chiefs of query on since they recognised it was correctly in each situation is important tens had shown them deference, above their station. We also learn and virtuous. Secondly, in pursuing a said, ‘We too have those who are how important it is to be like the question, one must be active and go to superior to us in knowledge’. A daughters of Tzelofchad; to be active a rabbinic authority most suitable for similar reply was given by the chiefs and search diligently for an answer the question at hand. And finally, for of hundreds, the chiefs of thousands in a situation where the halacha is the leaders—in situations that may and the princes.” Finally, the Midrash not clear. be unclear, practicing humility can tells us, the daughters of Tzelofchad Indeed, the praises the better lead us to the true will of God. came to Elazar who sent them to daughters of Tzelofchad who were Moshe. According to the Midrash, “exceedingly wise, knew how to Moshe probably knew the answer to expound the Torah well and were their inquiry, but “when [he] realised perfectly virtuous” (Bava Batra 119b). that each dignitary had shown This wording underlines that the deference to his superior he said: If I daughters of Tzelofchad were not tell them the law, I shall be claiming coming to complain to God, as the credit not due to me. So he said, ‘I generation of the wilderness did so too have a superior.’ And therefore, often, but rather, were truly troubled Moshe asked God what to do in the and wanted to discover what the

3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 26:52-27:5 inherit their father. Other hierarchical inheritance rights are God tells Moshe to apportion the Land to those counted stated. God tells Moshe to ascend Mount Avarim and look at in the census. The tribes with more people will receive the Land of Cana’an from afar, reminding him that he will not proportionally more land area. Although this distribution come into the Land because of his mistake of hitting the rock was calculated mathematically, it was carried out through (see Bemidbar 20:9-12). Moshe asks God to appoint a new Elazar drawing lots, guided by Divine inspiration (Rashi). The leader (see p.3 article). God tells him to appoint Yehoshua, main Levite families, who were not included in the census, which Moshe does, in the presence of Elazar and the are listed. They number 23,000 males above the age of one Sanhedrin (Rashi). month. No one who was included in the first census when the Israelites left Egypt is included in this census, as they 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 28:1-15 had died in the desert, apart from Yehoshua and Calev. The God instructs Moshe to tell the Israelites to bring five daughters of Tzelofchad, a descendant of Menashe, ask the twice-daily tamid (continual) offering, consisting of a male Moshe to be given their deceased father's share in the Land, lamb, together with a flour offering mixed with oil and a wine as they have no brothers to inherit him. Moshe consults God libation. The additional Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh offerings about their request. are detailed.

4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 27:6-23 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 28:16-29:11 God declares that Tzelofchad’s daughters are justified in their The special offerings for Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah and request and that, in the absence of sons, daughters are to Yom Kippur are also detailed. Technology, Food and Judaism Part 4: Partners in Creation? by Rabbi Joel Kenigsberg, Magen Avot Synagogue

What happens when inclusion of the Creation story in the science fiction becomes written Torah itself: “If the Torah then reality? Over the last few chose to relate the tale of creation, weeks, we have looked we may clearly derive one law from at some of the fascinating questions this manner of procedure—viz., that raised by unprecedented technologies we are obliged to engage in creation for the world of kashrut (kosher and the renewal of the cosmos.”2 dietary laws). But whilst the technical Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen discussion often centres around Kook (1865-1935), first Ashkenazi the permissibility of new products Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel, to be eaten or not, there is another explains that whilst we are cautioned fundamental question that can be part of the rationale for the prohibition from interfering with nature in a asked as well. How does the Torah of kilayim – forbidden crossbreeding destructive sense, working to improve view such “interference” with the of various animal and plant species – and advance the natural world would natural world? Is creating previously stems from the fact that one thereby certainly fall under that which is unheard-of entities overstepping the implies that the work of Creation is religiously permitted and required. mark and should nature rather be left incomplete. By crossbreeding, one Creating new species for their own to its own devices? Or perhaps we seems to indicate a desire to “help” sake would seem an experiment too are required to step in, develop and God, as it were, by creating new far, but using technological advances improve what is already there? species, as if those in existence were for the betterment of society is a When the first lab-grown unsatisfactory. Some have suggested different matter altogether. hamburger was produced in 2013, that this view should create the Lab-grown meat and other such it was referred to pejoratively by religious paradigm for dealing with technologies have arisen out of a some as the “Frankenburger”. The new and “unnatural” technologies. desire to challenge global hunger, term conjures up images of a mad Nonetheless, in commenting on protect the environment and to scientist creating a new species, and the verses of the story of Creation, the make the world a more sustainable indeed brings to mind words of our Ramban himself states that humanity place. Far from posing a theological rabbinic authorities suggesting that was given strength and dominion to threat, perhaps they are the very such activities would be forbidden build, to uproot and rebuild and to tools that God has given our by the Torah. For example, in his develop the world.1 Rabbi Joseph generation in order to, in one small commentary on Chumash, the Ramban B. Soloveitchik (1903-1993) writes way, become partners in the work (Nachmanides, 1194-1270) writes that that this in fact is the reason for the of Creation.

1 Commentary to Bereishit 1:28 2 Halachic Man, p. 100-101 In memory of Frida Mirel bat Chaim Simcha z"l

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 29:12-30:1 Haftarah The Torah details the many extra offerings brought during Taken from the start of the book of Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah), this Succot, including 70 bulls. Shemini Atzeret, the day after haftarah is the first of the three ‘haftarot of tribulation’ read Succot, has its own set of offerings. in the build-up to Tisha B’Av. The prophet is told by God that an invader will come ‘from the north’ to attack Jerusalem, as happened at the time of the destruction of the First Temple, because of the sinfulness of its inhabitants. Daf Yomi Reflections Siyum (completion) of Tractate Yoma and start of Sukkah by Rabbi Daniel Roselaar, Alei Tzion Synagogue

Many readers will services of the day - and at this final be familiar with the moment of Yom Kippur, the gates of concept of the Daf heaven are accessible to all. Yomi study-cycle The first four chapters of where participants Masechet Sukkah address the study a double-sided page of the laws of how a Sukkah should be Talmud every day and complete the constructed and how it should entire Babylonian Talmud in seven be utilised over the course of and a half years. The concept was the festival, as well as the laws launched by Rabbi Meir Shapira that apply to each of the arba’ah in Europe in September 1923 and minim (Four Species) and how they the current cycle began in January should be waved. The fifth chapter 2020. discusses the laws pertaining to the On Thursday 8th July 2021, Sukkot celebrations in the Temple, participants will conclude studying with particular reference to the Masechet (Tractate) Yoma – the water-drawing and water-pouring volume that deals extensively with ceremonies that took place. the Yom Kippur Avodah (service) Rabbi Yaakov Ettlinger (1798- as practised in the Temple, as well B. Soloveitchik (1903-1993) posited 1871) was a German Talmudist who as the laws that pertain to the that this reflects the intrinsic wrote a commentary called Aruch fast. The following day they will character of Yom Kippur as a Yom La-Ner and he observed that in the commence Masechet Sukkah. Tefillah – a day defined by, and Torah (Vayikra 23) the laws of the One of the final passages in focussed on, prayer. Providing a arba’ah minim (lulav, etrog etc.) Masechet Yoma (87b) deals with novel insight into the concept of precede the laws about sitting in the the nature of Neilah at the end of a final service and its relationship Sukkah. Why then does the Talmud Yom Kippur, and the third-century to the other services of the day, address these topics in the opposite Sages, Rav and Shmuel, debated its he suggested that Neilah is not order? He provides two answers to format. According to the former, it is an independent prayer service but this question which both focus on an additional fifth service that must a concluding service, and that if the chronology of observance rather be recited at the end of the day, any of the other four Yom Kippur than on the Scriptural verses: i) the whereas according to the latter, it is services are omitted one cannot Talmud begins with the laws about merely a final recitation of theVidui recite Neilah – perhaps somewhat the construction of the Sukkah (confessionary prayer) without the akin to the notion that if one does which must, perforce, be done recitation of an Amidah. not eat the main course, they are prior to the festival, and ii) even in In practice, we follow the view not allowed dessert! However, in terms of observance, the of Rav and Neilah is a full-blown most congregations we find that of Sukkah comes first because it service in its own right. The the numbers are swelled for Neilah, is practiced even in the evening renowned twentieth-century irrespective of whether worshippers whereas the arba’ah minim are not thinker and scholar Rabbi Joseph have participated in the other used until the next day.

In memory of Devorah bat Avraham z"l BLOOD LIBELS Part 5: Massena, New York and Beyond by Pnina Savery, US Jewish Living Educator

Perhaps the most the only incident of a ritual murder shocking of all blood accusation in America is some- libels is the story of what reassuring. Massena, New York, Massena was by no means due to its location. On Saturday the last blood libel accusation. 22nd September 1928, four-year-old A similar incident in Poland, in Barbara Griffiths disappeared. That 1946, sparked the far more violent night, as villagers searched for her, Kielce Pogrom. On 1st July 1946, a theory spread that she had been a nine-year-old boy left home a victim of Jewish ritual murder. without informing his parents. The police interviewed a number He returned two days later and, of Jewish residents and even in order to avoid punishment, he New York Times, 23.3.1929 summoned the rabbi of the town for claimed to have been kidnapped questioning. The Jewish community, by the Jews and held in a cellar fearful of what lay in store for them, underground. He referred to a build- The blood libel contacted national Jewish organisa- ing that housed Polish Holocaust tions for protection and support. survivors who had returned home, accusation Barbara was found twenty-four searching for relatives. Whilst his hours later, tired and hungry, but story quickly unravelled (for in- has had a long- otherwise unharmed. It appeared stance, the building he indicated had she had lost her way in the woods no cellar), an angry mob gathered term impact and fallen asleep. However, some outside and violence soon began. on our halachic still claimed that she had been The ensuing riot left 42 Jews dead kidnapped by the Jewish community and 40 injured. This tragedy reflects practice. and was only released when they re- the precarious position of Eastern alised how seriously her disappear- European Jewry post World War explains in his commentary that ance had been taken. The incident Two, less than one year after the communities no longer use red wine soon quietened down, and the local end of the war, whilst simultane- due to blood libel accusations. Rabbi newspaper did not even report the ously indicating the strength of the Yisrael Meir Kagan (1838-1933), blood libel accusation. blood libel accusation even halfway writing in his halachic work, the However, the national Jewish through the 20th century. In fact, Mishna Berura, adds that where we organisations mobilised, demanding numerous blood libels against the still need to worry about blood li- that the Mayor and the head of Jews still occur today, well into the bels, we use white wine. Thankfully, Massena Police apologise for the 21st century. the widespread custom today is to “outrageous rumour”. After several The blood libel accusation has use red wine on Pesach without fear weeks they did apologise, but both had a long-term impact on our of reprisals. However, the presence remained in their jobs. Whilst overall halachic practice. According to the of these allowances in our halachic the Massena Affair was relatively (Code of Jewish works is a permanent reminder of minor, it does show a widespread Law), it is better to use red wine for how far-reaching this danger has willingness to accept the blood libel the four cups of wine on Seder Night been through much of our history. accusation, even in the relatively (Ohr HaChaim 472:11). However, liberal and welcoming atmosphere the Taz (Rabbi David HaLevi Segal, Our thanks to Pnina for this of 1920s America. That this remains 1586–1667), writing in Poland, fascinating series.