Hello and welcome to another episode of Covenant and Conversation with me, Rabbi Sachs.

In each new episode, we'll explore a Jewish idea from the Hebrew Bible based on the Torah reading of the week.

Pinchas, the crown all can wear. Moses said to the Lord, may the Lord God of the spirits of all

flesh appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will

lead them out and bring them in, so that Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.

Moses was in sight of the angel of death. Miriam had died, so had Aaron. And God had told Moses,

you too will be gathered to your people as your brother Aaron was.

So he knew he wasn't fated to live long enough to cross the Jordan and enter the land.

Who would then be his successor? Did he have no thoughts on the matter?

With profound attentiveness, the sages noted the immediately previous passage, the story of

the daughters of Tzlovchad, who claimed their rights of inheritance in the land, despite the fact

that inheritance passed through the male line and their father had left no sons. Moses brought

their request to God, who answered that it was to be granted. Against this

background, the Midrash interprets Moses' thoughts as he brings his own request to God that a successor be

appointed. What was Moses' reason, says the Midrash, for making this request after declaring the

order of inheritance, just this,

that when the daughters of Slavchad inherited from their father, Moses reasoned,

the time is right for me to make my own request. If daughters inherit, it surely right that

my sons should inherit my glory. However, the Holy One, blessed be he said to him

that your son sat idly by and didn't study the Torah. Joshua served you faithfully and showed

you great honor. He rose early in the morning and remained late at night at your house of assembly.

He used to arrange the benches and spread the mats, seeing that he has served you with all his might,

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