06-12-2025 Torah Commentary

You will find this week’s parashah in the Book of Numbers 8:1-12:16. It is called “b’Ha’alotechah.”  The name means “when you raise yourself up” and the parashah’s name reflects its themes.  

In this week’s very long parashah, we find a weary Moses. Like many leaders, Moses has had to deal with what seemed to him to be non-stop complaining.  Although the text does not say so explicitly, the reader senses that Moses is experiencing leadership burnout and a feeling that no matter what he does, someone (or many someones) will complain.  Perhaps the pinnacle of this professional weariness is when in 12:1 the text tells us that “Vtidabber Miriam vAharon b’Mosheh al-odot ha’ishah ha’cushit asher lakach…/Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married….”  

Now Moses must deal with criticism from the two people in the world whom he always thought he could count on, his brother and his sister. Furthermore, it is unclear exactly what the complaints were.  Were Moses’ siblings angry at him for ignoring his wife Tziporah, or did she do something wrong?  Is this a case of racism or were Moses’ siblings standing up for Tziporah?  Is such criticism part of leadership or do we still treat our leaders unfairly? Should we judge a leader’s personal life by what occurs in his or her political life?

If we read the text carefully, we note that Moses reacts very gently to their criticism. It is as if he is tired, understands that they too may be tired, and realizes that often we take out our frustrations and our jealousies on those we love.  It must have been somewhat frustrating for Aaron and Miriam to be second to Moses. It is also part of human nature sometimes to hurt those who help us the most. 

The text shows us Moses’ greatness by the fact that instead of insisting that G-d punish his siblings, Moses’ only words are directed to G-d when he utters the Bible’s first prayer of petition — asking healing for his sister Miriam: “El na rfa na la/Oh G-d, please heal her now.” (12:13). As noted in last week’s YouTube section, these words have become a famous song.  Moses’ prayer is exceedingly short and to the point. Is it that these few words reflected his inner soul, and that at times the less said the better? 

Although the text indicates that G-d punished Miriam for her disloyalty, we have to ask ourselves if Moses was also asking G-d to heal her of her envy and perhaps jealousy. Is the text teaching us that in the world of politics sometimes those we love the most suffer from a form of leprosy of the heart? Is this the reason that family feuds are often so bitter?  Perhaps that is why this week’s portion is called “b’Ha’alotechah /when you bring yourself up”.  It challenges us to raise ourselves up by what we accomplish rather than by lowering others and especially those who seek to help us. 

What does this section teach us about our own hyper-politicized world; a world filled with the politics of personal destruction?  Are our leaders and media outlets acting more like Miriam or Moses?  What do you think?