PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality Online

  • Convert to Judaism
  • Online Rabbinical Program
  • Donate

Haftorah Beshalach: Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A…GIRL!

January 25, 2013 by Patrick Beaulier

haftarah
Judges 4:4-5:31

It’s a very “girl power” haftorah this week. The Israelites were being trounced by the vast armies of King Jabin of Canaan and his general Sisera. Deborah the Prophetess instructs Barak, son of Abinoam to “gather your men toward Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and Zubulun (2 of the 12 tribes). And I shall draw to you to the brook Kishon Sisera…with his chariots and his multitude; and I will give him into your hand.”

Barak and Deborah led the offensive maneuver. Sisera responded to the Israelites’ mobilization as expected and headed to the Kishon River. The haftorah tells us the Canannites had to fight on two fronts that day: against Barak & Deborah’s army below and from the heavens above, and were said to be severely crushed.

Sisera, the defeated general, fled on foot and sought asylum at the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, a tent-maker. She agreed, bringing him into the tent and offering to hide him. He must have been relieved at the seeming safe haven, as he rested, falling asleep after the grueling battle. It would be a rest from which he would not awaken however; as we’re told Jael pounded a tent peg through his temple as he slept.

What a way for the ladies to turn the tide of the battles! Deborah (or Dvora) means “bee.’ Rocky’s trainer advising to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” comes to mind. Deborah was the fourth Judge of Israel, and the only judge mentioned in the Torah, which describes her as both a counselor and a warrior. The portrayal of Deborah and Jael as strong, intelligent, independent women is significant—having a non-royalty female as a both a legal judge and a leader in battle would have been extremely forward-thinking during that era, about 12th century BCE.

Casey (Kefira) McCarty is a published author living in Ohio. She is the Assistant Director of the Columbus Idea Foundry, a community workshop space, and is an artisan who crafts jewelry, Judaica and fine art available online and in Central Ohio galleries and boutiques. You can find her online shop at www.sinemetudesigns.etsy.com

Filed Under: Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, deborah, dvora, hafatarah, haftarah beshalach, jewish feminism, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary: Online Rabbinical Program

Through our relationship with Darshan Yeshiva, we are supporting the launch of Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary (PRS), what we hope to be the very best in practical, distance learning based rabbinical education. What do we love about this project? PRS is the only rabbinical school … [Read More...]

Now Hiring: Rabbis, Educators & Creatives

Rabbis Sought Want to work one-on-one as a rabbi, educator and mentor for an organization that is growing by leaps and bounds, utilizing new models of Jewish community as well as the latest learning technology? Darshan Yeshiva is currently searching for rabbis to be part of our growing … [Read More...]

Become a Jewish Spiritual Leader

Our online leadership school, Darshan Yeshiva, teaches you everything you need to know to become a Darshan, a lay Jewish spiritual leader serving unaffiliated communities all over the world. There are so many Jews out there who need community, but for whom there will never be a … [Read More...]

PUNKTORAH
PO Box 7414
Richmond, VA 23221-0414

questions@punktorah.org
YouTube
Facebook

Read our DMCA notice

Search the PunkTorah Blog Archive

What We Do

Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary: Online Rabbinical Program

Now Hiring: Rabbis, Educators & Creatives

Become a Jewish Spiritual Leader

  • Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud)
  • Judaism & Belief
  • The G-d Project Videos
  • Podcasts & Videos
  • NewKosher (Recipes)
  • Converting To Judaism
  • LGBTQ & Women
  • Shabbat & Holidays

Copyright PunkTorah Inc.© 2022