One of the major lessons of this week’s Torah Portion is that leaders come and go but it is through our ritual that we remain true to our mission.
Now for a quick Devar Torah.
This week’s parashah is something of a guidepost. To understand it, we have to remember where we are in the Book of Bamidbar. Moses is preparing the Jewish people for the greatest transition in their history. They are moving from life in the wilderness, where God provided their every need, to life in the Land of Israel, where they will have to farm, build communities, establish courts, defend themselves, and earn a living. The obvious miracles are about to end. God will still be with them, but His presence will be seen more through everyday life than through open miracles.
In a sense, they’re about to enter the “real world.”
That explains why this parashah contains such a wide variety of topics.
It begins with Pinchas receiving God’s covenant of peace. It continues with Moses being told to appoint his successor. Moses’ own sons are passed over because leadership is not inherited automatically. Joshua has earned the position through years of faithful service, study, and dedication. The Torah reminds us that true leadership is based on merit and commitment, not family connections.
Then comes the case of the daughters of Zelophehad. They present a situation no one had faced before. Moses doesn’t pretend to know the answer. Instead, he turns to God for guidance. That’s another lesson in leadership: a good leader must be willing to confront new challenges with humility and seek the right answer rather than simply giving an opinion.
But right in the middle of all this, the Torah suddenly lists the daily offerings, the Shabbat offerings, and then the offerings for Rosh Chodesh, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. At first glance, it seems out of place.
It isn’t.
The Torah is teaching that while leaders come and go, the mission continues. Moses will leave. Aaron has already died, and Eleazar has become the High Priest. Joshua will replace Moses. Generations will change, but the service of God remains constant. The rhythm of Jewish life—the daily offerings, Shabbat, and the festivals—will continue long after any individual leader is gone.
Traditions are what hold a nation together. Anyone who has children knows that they may not yet understand all the theology of Rosh Hashanah or Pesach, but they remember the traditions. Those experiences become the foundation of Jewish identity.
And one final point. God doesn’t need our sacrifices. News flash: God doesn’t eat. The offerings were never for His benefit; they were for ours. They trained us in gratitude, discipline, commitment, and holiness. Everything God commands us is ultimately meant to make us into better people.
That’s the message of this section of the parashah. Leaders change. Circumstances change. We move from the wilderness into the real world. But God’s mission, God’s values, and the covenant endure. Our responsibility is to carry them forward from one generation to the next.
Something to think about.
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