Speaking Up: Women in Tanach Who Changed Jewish People’s Lives

There comes a time in many moments of our lives where we have the opportunity to speak up and make a difference. It may be a small matter that only affects a limited number of individuals, or it may be a larger scale issue that influences many. Regardless of reach, when we have something to say that can create positive changes around us, it’s important to find the courage to speak up in an appropriate fashion. Our actions and words can change one life or many, as we will see from a few examples in Tanach. 

When Pharaoh decrees that all male babies born be thrown into the river and drowned, Amram separates from his wife, Yocheved. His reasoning, of course, is why should he possibly bring a child into the world, only to have it killed. It is his young daughter, Miriam, who convinces him otherwise. According to Rashi, Miriam tells her father, “your decree is more severe than Pharaoh’s. If Pharaoh decreed only against the males, should you have decreed against the females, as well”¹? Amram takes the advice of his daughter and reunites with Yocheved. The end result is that Moshe Rabbeinu is born. When Miriam speaks to her father, she makes a valid and crucial point. Albeit young, Miriam is coming from a place of wisdom and logic. She argues that he doesn’t know if he will be blessed with a son or a daughter, so why should he condemn them both. Amram understands her reasoning and concedes. Had Miriam stood idly by, during this period, who knows how the events might have played out. It is because she spoke up and advised her father in a reasonable manner that he changed his actions, which ultimately led to Moshe being born and the Jewish people being redeemed from Mitzrayim. 

In Bamidbar, the Torah discusses the laws of inheritance. There we see the Daughters of Tzelafchad approach Moshe and posit that since their father died and did not have any sons, they, his daughters, should be able to inherit his portion. Moshe brings their case to Hashem Himself! Hashem tells Moshe that the Daughters of Tzelafchad speak correctly and that the inheritance of their father should pass over to them². According to R’ Yerucham Levovitz, the Daughters of Tzelafchad are considered as “contributors to the Torah” because they were wise enough to argue that they should be entitled to a portion of the land. Since the basis for understanding Jewish law comes through questioning, they were correct and astute to speak up at the time³. By questioning their inheritance status, they set the precedence for female ownership of land. Indeed, Hashem tells Moshe, after this case, to let the Jewish people know that if a man should die without a son, his inheritance should pass to his daughter. Furthermore, R’ Moshe Feinstein indicates that their request for a piece of the land was due to their love of the Land of Israel⁴. Thus, their intentions were not money or power related, but rather inspired by a higher, spiritual desire to be connected to the land they learned to love so much. With these humble intentions, the Daughters of Tzelafchad spoke up about what they felt was an injustice. In the end, they not only succeeded in securing a piece of Eretz Yisrael for themselves, they also set into motion the passage of inheritance to future women who might find themselves in a similar situation. 

Another woman who made an impact on the way we live is Chana. In Shmuel I, we see the wife of Elkanah, Chana, finds herself barren and tormented by Elkanah’s other wife, Penina, who was blessed with many children. Distraught over her inability to have a child, Chana goes to the Mishkan, cries and prays to Hashem and vows that if He blesses her with a son, she will give him to Hashem so he can serve Him forever. 

Eli the Kohen and leader at the time, sees that only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. He assumes she is drunk, reprimands her behavior, and tells her to return home. It is only when she explains herself, that Eli realizes his misjudgment and blesses her that her prayers be answered. Chana’s prayers are eventually answered and she gives birth to one of Israel’s greatest prophets and leaders, Shmuel HaNavi. During that time, it was not customary to pray silently (Shmuel I; Rashi 13), which was why Eli thought Chana was drunk. But her prayers had such great kavanah— intention and purpose— that it became the model for how we davan the Shemoneh Esrei. Like Chana, we speak the words to ourselves, but not loud enough for those around us to hear. Chana was unashamed to plead to Hashem in the fashion that felt right to her, and because of her greatness in tefillah, we all emulate her prayers even today.

Chana was unashamed to plead to Hashem in the fashion that felt right to her, and because of her greatness in tefillah, we all emulate her prayers even today.

These are only a handful of examples of great women who changed the lives of many. Because Miriam spoke up, a life was born and a nation redeemed. By bringing their case before Moshe, the Daughters of Tzelafchad secured the passage of an inheritance to females in a family. And through Chana’s outpouring to Hashem in an unconventional way at the time, the Jewish people learned how to pray. While silence is often lauded, there is also a time for speaking up. It is our duty to know when to do both, for speaking up at the correct time and in the right way, we can become positive change agents for ourselves and possibly, future generations. With the right intentions, like these righteous women, we may also discover moments in our lives which behooves us to take a stand and voice our opinions. Modern day women have already done so at personal, familial, communal, and even national level. They have spoken up for those less fortunate, began chesed organizations, created non-profits, and found other ways to right wrongs and make the world a better place for those around them. Whether we advise, like Miriam, start a campaign like the Daughters of Tzelafchad, or role model, like Chana, we all have opportunities to leave a positive mark on our families, communities, or the world at large. 

¹ Shemot 2:1

² Bamidbar 27:7

³ Daily Dose of Torah 10, Artscroll; 224

⁴ Darash Moshe; Artscroll, 263