Behaalotecha in a Nutshell

Moshe and Miriam really seemed to have issues with one another sometimes. In their disagreements Miriam always seems to be the one getting in trouble for being too critical. Clearly Moshe loves his sister and Miriam loves her brother, yet in most situations of accomplishment, family seems to be the most critical. I wonder if Moshe said something disrespectful about Miriam, would he get punished with some malady as well. I grew up with a sister an few years older than myself and sometimes we enjoyed tormenting one another. It was always the luck of the draw as to who got punished. Clearly we both deserved to be punished, but it was a matter of who got caught being the agitator. Yet, in the end it was just as painful to watch each other get punished. I can relate. Reply

The group of Jews who were ritually impure to receive First Passover seem to complain the most. Where was their “meat”, as the “bread from heaven” was not enough! Where was their sacrifice? Moses has his hands full dealing with such negativity and employs 70 elders to help while Aaron is ‘raising the light”, all of these actions in service for this group of complainers unwilling to help and/or sacrifice for the whole. Perhaps Miriam’s negative comment was the tipping point - as it plainly shows state of her heart mirroring impurities of the group. Moses’ prayers for Miriam’s healing shows his heart, not only to Miriam, also to the group. Moses had a heart of gold. Reply

In our Torah the most important thing is not to do bsd behavior. In many times we can see what happens when we don’t behave well , and we the Jewish people we gave to the world the ten 10 commendements the laws of God Reply

I see many comments that say Miriam expressed disapproval of Moshe's choice of wife and was therefor punished. This is entirely not the case! she commented on what she perceived as Moshe not treating his wife as he should! Her punishment came because she didn't know the background of what was happening and yet expressed a negative opinion. Reply

shaliach means: To employ deplomacy and discretion and parsimony i.e. Generosity Reply

schmoozing in berkley aaron is commanded to raise lamps... and what kind of olives were to be cultivated for the oil? what were the directives for the harvest? Reply

nu interesting story Reply

my birthday parsha G-d chose Moshe to lead His chosen people Israel as he was the meekest of all; Moshe listened carefully to HaShem's words. Miriam spoke ill of Moshe's choice of wife. Moshe's wife chose Moshe for her husband as well, I should think. G-d healed her yes, but Miriam was stricken with leprosy for speaking ill of the meekest man's wife, her own brother. Probably this upset HaShem, though he did heal Miriam of the ailment as she was repentant. We must guard our tongues.... Reply

Being Able to See (Recognize) the Soul (Neshuma)נעשומא Miriam was criticizing her brother Moshe for marrying a Cushite (Ethiopian, black) woman. It occurred to me, G-d punished her by turning her skin so white, it was cracking & falling off. Her brother Moshe, interceded & 7 days in the desert & some reflection, she was miraculously cured.
In those days, polygamy wasn't uncommon, so I doubt that was the issue. I wonder if the real midrash here is that G-d doesn't want us to discriminate against people of color.Certainly, King Solomon took an Ethiopian wife. Now there are many thousands of Jews descended from the Ethiopians. The Lemba tribe in South Africa say they are Jews & 1 tribe (who make up 25% of them) called their priestly tribe have a genetic Y marker for Kohanim.
When there were Pogroms in Eastern Europe & there was few teachers left to teach our people our laws and traditions, the Baal Shem Tov started a movement called Hassidim. to teach.He taught if you can't pray, hum a nigun! What is the skin of a Jewish Soul (Neshuma)? Reply

Re: Comment by Miriam, June 8, 2012 "This does not give her the right to speak negatively, but being given leprosy ? The only thing i can come up with is that G-d disfigured himself at the same time."

G-d is a perfect being, with perfect love and perfect judgement. MIriam's affliction gave her time to focus on what she did that brought upon such a discipline.

G-d is perfect, incorporeal, and concepts like "disfigurement" don't apply in any means to Him, the Holy One. For a simple comparison: if a child speaks negatively of their sibling, and the father issues a punishment, would the father then take the same punishment upon himself? It doesn't make real logical sense. G-d is Father, King, administrator, and nothing less than that. Reply

Conversion, St Simons Island We go to the Chabad Synogogue in Atlanta GA. If you would like, please contact the shul at (404) 843-2464 and ask about coming up to Atlanta for a Shabbas. There are many families that take overnight guests to try a Shabbas. Call and talk to the Rabbi and tell him that you have been involved in online dicussions on Chabad.org regarding this. Also, please be aware, that you really don't need to convert. You can live a wonderful fulfilled life by simply fulfilling the 7 Laws of Noah. Go to the Chabad website to learn about the Noachide Lifestyle. Good Shabbas!


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Raise the light This is genufective to Bereshit when Hashem creates the very first UNIT of creation of which he builds the world. That unit in philosophy is called the MONAD (and you can research this i am good for it). The Menorah is a physical representation of the first created unit and it is also representative of the burning bush that was not consumed. These ARE strictly mental images but have been given metaphorical physical forms.
So raising the light translates into building the structure of the earth that the earth should be built on the light. You can properly know this unless you are truely IVRIT
(ie. one who has crossed over) and make no mistake about it I have crossed over. It is NOT in the wandering but in the crossing. Baruch Hashem Reply

of course of course she recovered! Reply

this parsha is actually my bat mitzvah parsha which i will be celebrating in 2013 Reply

Converting to Judaism @ Anonymous, Los Angeles, CA

Thank you for the advice and encouragement! Synagogues located in Jacksonville and Savannah are approx 3 hrs drive time roundtrip. I am a wife and mother. My daughter attends Boston University and has many wonderful Jewish friends in the city. My son is only 5 years old and my husband's family business is almost 100 years old. We are entrenched in our island community. Relocation is not an option for us. I will continue to read/study this website.
It is a shame the southern US doesnt have a larger Jewish voice. So many good people will never have exposure to Judaism down South. I will keep searching for a synagogue closer to home. Thank you so very much! Reply

Converting to Judaism @Anonymous, St. Simons Island, GA/USA

I was born Jewish but I'm guessing the best first step for you would be to find a rabbi at a synagogue.

You could try a Google search for "Jacksonville synagogue" or "Savannah synagogue"

Ultimately, if you are willing to move you'll almost certainly find a rabbi willing to help you . We Jews tend to live in big cities. Also, frankly, most Jews who lived in the southern part of the US have left. Therefore, you'd probably be welcomed with open arms by a congregation in the South! Reply

To Anonymous, St. Simons Island, GA/USA To Anonymous, St. Simons Island, GA/USA
My sister is currently living in Yisrael and going through conversion classes. Feel free to contact us via the editors if you would like to ask questions of her. Shalom. Reply

Miriam Just today i have wondered about the disfigurement of Miriam. Miriam saved Moses. This does not give her the right to speak negatively, but being given leprosy ? The only thing i can come up with is that G-d disfigured himself at the same time. Reply

Everytime my heart hurts I come to this website for solace. Jewish wisdom always helps. I love this Jewish community! For the past ten years I have questioned converting to Judaism. Can anyone point me in the right direction please? Thank you Reply

Reply: Did Miriam recover? Yes, she must have because she later returned to the camps. Reply