Parshas Pinchas 5786 - Beyond Real Estate

We learn the laws of inheritance from a simple request made by five sisters. The Torah tells us that the daughters of Zelophehad, whose father died without leaving any sons, approached Moshe and asked:

"Why should the name of our father be omitted from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father's brothers." (Bamidbar 27:3–4)

They longed to inherit their father's portion in the Land of Israel, even though the prevailing laws of inheritance provided only for sons.

Hashem responded approvingly:

"The daughters of Zelophehad speak properly. You shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father's brothers, and you shall cause their father's inheritance to pass over to them." (Bamidbar 27:7)

Chazal offer even greater praise:

"This law was fit to have been written through Moshe, but the daughters of Zelophehad merited that it was written through them." (Bava Basra 119a; Rashi to Bamidbar 27:5)

This praise seems surprising. At first glance, the sisters simply appeared to be asserting what they believed was a fair inheritance. Many people seek to protect their financial interests. Why, then, do Chazal describe these women as wise and righteous (Bava Basra 119a)?

Rashi explains that the sisters were not praised because they sought property, but because of the motivation behind their request. At the conclusion of the census in this week's parshah, the Torah notes that all the men counted in the first census had died in the wilderness as a result of the sin of the spies, with the exception of Yehoshua and Calev (Bamidbar 26:64–65). Rashi comments:

"The decree resulting from the incident of the spies was not enacted upon the women, because they cherished the Land. The men had said, 'Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt' (Bamidbar 14:4), whereas the women said, 'Give us a possession in the Land' (Bamidbar 27:4)."

The motivation of the daughters of Zelophehad was far deeper than inheritance. They longed to possess a portion of Eretz Yisrael because they cherished its holiness and wanted to participate fully in the fulfillment of Hashem's promise to the Jewish people.

Rav Chaim Shmulevitz, zt"l, explains that those who appreciate the unique sanctity of Eretz Yisrael receive an abundance of Divine inspiration, for the Torah describes it as "a Land that Hashem your G-d seeks out; the eyes of Hashem your G-d are always upon it" (Devarim 11:12). He adds that both the Ibn Ezra and the Ramban understand that owning a portion in the Land of Israel reflects an extraordinary spiritual connection, to the extent that it is compared to possessing a share in Olam HaBah (Sichos Mussar 90, p. 386).

The greatness of the daughters of Zelophehad was not in their legal argument, but in their unwavering love for Eretz Yisrael. They recognized that the Land was not simply real estate; it was the place where the Jewish people experience the closest relationship with Hashem. Their desire for an inheritance reflected their yearning for that unique spiritual connection.

Their example challenges us as well. Loving Eretz Yisrael means more than appreciating its history or supporting it from afar. It means recognizing its unique holiness and aspiring to strengthen our own connection to the Land and to the Divine Presence that rests there.

May we cultivate the same love for Eretz Yisrael that inspired the daughters of Zelophehad. In that merit, may we soon witness the complete redemption, when all of Israel will dwell securely in the Land of Israel and all the nations of the world will recognize Hashem's Presence among His people.