Thinking Torah Blog

In this week’s Torah portion, Chukat, Miriam dies, and the people are without water. The rabbinic tradition attributes this lack of water to Miriam’s death, maintaining that Miriam merited a well for the Israelites, which would travel with them through the wilderness. With Miriam’s death, that well dried up, and the Israelites grew thirsty, a problem anywhere, especially in the desert.

Water metaphors abound, some of which come from our tradition, such as “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:24). Wells are places of meeting in the Torah, such as when Abraham’s servant Eliezer meets Rebekah at the well, and she brings him water. Of course, we know that water is essential for life. We can go weeks without food but a few days without water, and we quickly perish.

Most of us know that the Jewish people read the Torah every Shabbat, but many Jews also read the Torah on Monday and Thursday mornings. According to the Talmud, Ezra initiated Torah readings on market days when the people were already in town and taking care of their business. However, Our sages claim that Torah reading is done on Monday and Thursday as well because Torah is like water; without having some every three days, we perish.  

I don’t participate in a public reading of the Torah every three days, but I do often study the Torah. It adds great meaning to my life and helps sustain me through the darkness our world can often bring. In our weekly Torah study group, we have been studying the Torah verse by verse for nearly three years. It has been an amazing experience for me and those who participate. Some days, we discuss one verse and some days, we discuss ten; either way, we leave feeling enlivened by the words of our tradition. Consider joining us on Shabbat morning; all are welcome, no matter how familiar you are with the Torah. Come and drink from the well.