Behaalotcha is full of stories of the Israelites' continuing journey through the desert. At the very very end of this long parsha we read about Aaron and Miriam who speak about Moses’s relationship with his wife Ziporah, which leads to God’s anger and Miriam’s punishment. She is given Tzoraat, a skin disease. Although both Aaron and Moses ask God to take back his punishment, God replies, ““If her father spat in her face, would she not be disgraced for seven days? Let her be shut out of camp for seven days and then let her be readmitted.” (Numbers 12:14)
In her midrash on Miriam’s passing, Tamara Biala picks up at the end of our story. “From the day that Miriam returned to the encampment God's statement about her “would she not be disgraced?” (Numbers 12:14) was fulfilled, and she hid in the tent and no longer revealed herself to the Children of Israel. Like the moon, which, too, sought to reign as an equal, and was told “Go and diminish yourself,” she would emerge only at the time when darkness would descend, and hurry to that well which the Holy Blessed One had left them, which tumbled along with them on their journeys.” (Death by a Kiss, Dirshuni: Contemporary Women’s Midrash)
Even as I struggle with the immensity of Miriam’s punishment, it isn’t hard to believe that it would affect her in this way. How many times do we ask ourselves to be diminished because we are unsure? If even a prophet as great as Miriam, who rose up to lead the people in song at the edge of the red sea, can be unsure of herself, what hope do we have?
The story in the midrash continues, and, in her death, Miriam is redeemed by Tzipporah and mourned by all the women because her intentions were good in speaking about Tzipporah and Moses, to reunite them. But let us not wait until death to redeem ourselves in our own eyes. May we have the strength to grow bright like the full moon.
Shabbat Shalom.
Shout out to Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum who introduced me to this Midrash and to Rabbi Avi Killip who shared her teachings on Hadar's website.
For the rest of the midrash see:
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