TO

receiving a double portion. In this week’s reading, Moses is presented with a unique situation.

The daughters of a man named Zelophechad – of whom very little is known – approach Moses and state that their father has died, leaving behind only daughters. They request that they receive their father’s portion in the land of Israel.

Moses checks with God, who agrees, and their wish is granted.

younger son. A good example of this is the case of Jacob and his 12 sons; Reuben was the eldest, but the birthright was given to Joseph’s sons.

In Pinchas, we learn that the birthright could also be assigned to a firstborn daughter, and other property could in fact be transferred to the other daughters – which was an important and key ruling.

In this week’s parashah, and in many others, the status of women is both recognized and encouraged. Remember that events in this portion occurred more than 3,000 years before an activist from the Bronx coined the phrase “Me Too,” in 2006!

name him as his successor.

So, who was Joshua? He served as Moses’ attendant. He was one of two people who held Moses’ uplifted arms as an omen against the Amalekites, who had attacked them from the back. Joshua was allowed to accompany Moses half-way up Mount Sinai, as Moses continued on to receive the commandments. And Joshua was one of two confident spies who returned from a visit to Canaan expressing his faith in God; that they would, in fact, be able to reclaim their land. Quite a resume for someone to take over Moses’ responsibilities, for sure.

receiving their father’s inheritance, and Joshua chosen as the successor to Moses? All three remind us that the Torah, as much as it is about grandiose laws, guidelines and ideals, is really about people – what they do and what they stand for. And this reminds us that our lives are also centered around people. And perhaps this is the genius of needing a minyan to have a Jewish service. We learn that we all count!

At any rate, in our weekly portion we find a number of interesting episodes. In one section of the narrative, we discover a very positive ruling in favor of women. According to the laws explained to Moses by God, when a man dies, his inheritance is assigned to his sons, with the eldest son

Now, this was no easy matter. The concept of inheritance and sons was extraordinarily complex. For example, in biblical times, the firstborn son assumed the father’s authority and responsibilities. However, the Bible also indicates that the father could rescind the birthright and pass it on to a

Later in the reading, God tells Moses to climb to the top of Mount Nevo to see the Promised Land, since he was not allowed to physically enter Canaan. Moses, ever the humble servant, asks God to appoint a worthy individual to succeed him. God instructs Moses to endow Joshua with some of his spiritual powers and officially

Joshua, Yehoshua in Hebrew, means “God is salvation,” which was a perfect fit for what Joshua was about to experience.

Now, what ties together these three stories of Pinchas attaining eternal priesthood, Zelohechad’s daughters

Candle lighting times

July 2023

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 co-director. He has helped make all major decisions. Even though he’s seven, I feel like he knows a lot about nonprofit development, fundraising. He gives advice about volunteer training. He’s been here every step of the way.

Where do you find the materials?

Our materials come from local businesses [that] have surplus from their manufacturing presses, as well as individuals who are cleaning out their attic and are lifetime artists and want their supplies to go to future artists. So, really a little bit of everyone.

In the beginning, we were doing a lot of calling and outreach, and now people are coming to us. So we have a backlog of donations that we need to sort through, which is a really great problem to have.

What has your career been like leading up to this?

I’ve had a winding professional path here in Rhode Island. This work as a director of the Reuse Center is volunteer. My paid work is as the mentoring and leadership development program officer at the Bronfman Fellowship, which is a leadership program for Jewish high school students, and I serve as their coordinator for alumni leadership programs.

I’m also the quality adviser for 21st Century [Community Learning Center] programming, through the Rhode Island Department of Education; a technical assistant for summer learning in Central Falls and Woonsocket, funded through the United Way.

I think in all the work that I’ve ever done, whether it was organizing with the Coalition for the Homeless or creating project-based learning in Central Falls, it’s always about people-driven, community-based work. And so, to me, it’s all connected. How do we bring people together, to find the best in themselves, to nurture community? Here [at the Reuse Center], it’s objects that are the source of that community-building, but that’s really just the beginning.

How does the Reuse Center fit into the larger world of recycling?

If we don’t find a way to reuse and remake materials, we will run out of space. We will run out of materials. So, I don’t think it’s really an option anymore, and I think more and more people are realizing that. Artists are realizing that. Companies are realizing that. Kids are realizing that.

Any object needs to have more than one life, and it’s really cool to see people walk in here and get rope and tubes and wire, and then send us a picture of the most incredible creations. It’s an all-ages process of turning waste into treasure.

How have things been during this first half-year or so?

We’re open two days a week, and I wish we could be open every day of the week. We’re completely volunteer-run, so it’s totally based on volunteer availability, and eventually we [will] find a way to hire an actual staff person to be here. When people come in, they just light up, and that feels so good. We have had birthday parties and field trips. Sometimes people just come and see what the space is like. It’s often, especially lately, really busy. It’s so cool. It’s like, “Where are all these people coming from?”

We haven’t had that much availability in terms of outreach, so our main outreach is through social media and word of mouth, and we’re so grateful to people who are helping along the way.

Who comes to the Reuse Center? What are they looking for?

We have art teachers who are looking for cheap supplies for their students. Many art teachers from local public schools barely have any school funding to get materials, and they’re so excited when we pack up their cars. We have artists coming in, artists who use recycled materials in their work. Lots of homeschool families, individuals who are creative, kids. We have several synagogues who are members, in Rhode Island and Boston, who are often coming in for their Hebrew school programs.

Greater Rhode Island

July 7 8:30pm

July 14 7:59pm

July 21 7:54pm

June 28 7:48pm be safe, to be anti-racist, to work toward social justice –to me, that is my Judaism.

Oftentimes people come to donate, and we have a barter system, so if you donate, you can take things home in exchange. And some people don’t want that, because they were trying to get rid of things, but other people are excited. They’re like, “I’m no longer a quilter, but those are some really cool beads. Maybe I’ll start up a new hobby!”

For you, does the Reuse Center reflect Jewish traditions or values?

I think when Jewish identity is a core part of a person’s identity, everything we do is influenced and inspired by our community, our upbringing, our text. We really want this space to be accessible, to

THE CREATIVE REUSE CENTER OF RHODE ISLAND is located at 991 Waterman Ave., East Providence. Hours are Sundays, 1-5 p.m., and Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information about the Reuse Center, go to CreativeReuseCenterRI. org. To watch a short video featuring Elizabeth and Isaiah, go to JewishRhody. com.

ROBERT ISENBERG (risenberg@ jewishallianceri.org) is the multimedia producer for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and a writer for Jewish Rhode Island.