Maureena’s Torah Reflections
Parashat Chukat. Numbers 19:1-22:1
And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.
Now there was no water for the congregation. (Num.20:1-2)
Miriam was the older sister of Aaron and Moses, and the first woman in the bible to be named a prophet. A Midrashic legend speaks of Miriam’s well, a well that followed Miriam, providing the Israelites with water. When Miriam died in Kadesh, the well dried up and a great thirst overtook the people and their livestock, leading to the account of Moses striking the rock for water.
I’m reminded of a Hebrew song by Naomi Shemer entitled, “The Guest” (Ha-o-reach). Upon arrival of the guest, the guest is welcomed with a green fruit basket, a white flower, red wine and bread with salt. The guest sits as a member of the family, in a room with the shutters open. When the guest has left of necessity, one sees the table cloth that is shaken out, the empty table, and the shudders closed.
I choose this song as a metaphorical way to describe an experience of a Miriam guest in our house who departs of necessity. Let us pause to name a Miriam figure in our lives.
Prepared by Prof. Sr. Maureena Fritz nds
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“Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies.”
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions: Nostra Aetate, No. 4