Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

Survival – Connection – Community

This week’s portion is Chukas and is multifaceted.  The focus will be a woman supplying water to an entire people in the desert this week.  Miriam was not a young woman.  Miriam's well followed the people.  It is in her merit that this occurred and water in the desert is a survival issue. HaShem provided the most basic needs for His People.  Moshe didn't follow “orders” and struck the rock instead of speaking to it with dire consequences for him not entering the land.  Learning to listen, hear and do what the Most High asks of us is a serious matter. Today we have the scriptures HaShem has given to us for our derech chayim (walk or way of life). At times the place of women is challenged and left as second place in society.  In Judaism that isn't possible.  Roles are different for all in the mitzvot (commandments), but roles are not ranked, just noted as different.  Even the servants and slaves do not remain at that status permanently unless an individual chooses to make it permanent with his master. Miriam, a prophetess, sang and led the women in worship and praise to the Most High after crossing the Reed Sea.  She often was with Moshe and Aaron as we saw in the past parsha.  Just as Moshe and Aaron had roles in Exodus so did Miriam though...