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Channels Women’s Learning A Taste of Text

The Suspected Adulteress: A Metaphor for When We Mess Up in Life

A Taste of Text—Naso

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The Suspected Adulteress: A Taste of Text—Naso

We are still “married” to our ideals and spiritual vision; we simply need to be reunited with our true, inner selves.

Handouts:	Naso
Audio:	Listen to Audio \| Download this MP3
Topics:	Sotah, Naso

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By Chana Weisberg

Chana Weisberg is the editor of TheJewishWoman.org and host of the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories podcast. She lectures internationally on issues relating to women, relationships, meaning, self-esteem and the Jewish soul. She is the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion.

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12 Comments

Marylu Jersey shore June 3, 2023

Oh I didn't realize she could decide not to do this. Thank you. I thought it was automatic.
Nor did I realize, he was affected by the identical death of thigh/stomach. Reply

Carlos Raimundo Pearl Beach June 2, 2020

Thank you Chana,
I love learning Torah from women!
I remember my mother reading to me Prov 31:8,9 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
After that my father would say to her "you're my virtuous woman"

Thank you,
Shalom, from Sydney
Carlos Reply

Jesse Wassner Pompton Plains, NJ May 25, 2018

I am not sure I understand how this Torah portion cannot be viewed in the context of today's MeToo movement. It seems quite sexist that a woman is to be accused of adultery without sufficient evidence. This seems to be like the Salem witch trials where a woman is killed without any justice. I love my Torah learning but this Parashat bothers me. Reply

Chana Weisberg, author October 31, 2018

in response to Jesse Wassner:

Thanks for writing. As far as accusations without evidence--the suspected adulteress was told not to seclude herself, locked up alone with her suspected lover and was seen doing so by witnesses. She was not obligated to take the "sota test". If either she or her husband were not interested in continuing the marriage, they could terminate it without doing this procedure. This was only for those women who willingly wanted to do so. This procedure was later stopped because too many people were engaged in inappropriate behaviors. However, the whole story can be seen on many levels, as explained in the video, so that its lessons apply to all of us on a spiritual/cosmic/emotional level as well. Reply

Rachel Madison, WI June 12, 2019

in response to Chana Weisberg, author:

Mysogeny in Jewish Religion I thought adultresses were stoned to death, by drinking the bitter water, they might escape being stoned. So I guess this would be considered duress and may not really be construed as “willingly”. Many believe Jewish faith to be very sexist, but they are not viewing Torah in context with the culture at that time. Scholarly Biblical study describes early Jewish morality as an alarming departure from societal norms that routinely discounted the marginalized, Ripping people off was an admired trait to be emulated. There was no regard for the welfare of widows and orphans. Human life was not valued, if somebody stole they were slain. Women were chattel. Torah changed all this, giving justice to the disinfranchised. Honest weights and measures, interest-free loans to the poor, leaving part of the crops in the field for the poor. So, don’t throw out the baby with the bath water, judging ancient Jewish culture
by today’s standards. Reply

Rachel M. USA May 22, 2018

Good teaching.
There is a street sign along an old country some miles away, the street sign says, "God good Devil bad"; simply put, we make the choice of direction and reason the consequences unless given over to being " simple" or stupid and foolish. Arrogance of nature seems to inhertantly embrace rebellion toward God and His commands for living a godly life.
Repentance brings such release, renewal and loving benefits that it obviously outweighs taking the broad road to destruction.
The final comments about "beauty" were excellent and so true.
Thank you ladies of faith for an uplifting study.
The man's hat and sunglasses as one woman wore in the group meeting was unladylike and annoying (sorry if that came off offensively). Reply

Edith May 31, 2014

On response to bending The greatest, is to realize if and that you are not bending...bending in justice and love of course. When you suddenly feel yourself seeing only one way, force yourself to bend and feel what it feels. That way you can allow G-d in and allow Him to offer you advice. That advice will be closer to the truth than anything. But at the same time you cannot let your ego or arrogance believe or "know" that that "advice" or "allowing" is the answer. Because that is arrogance, so instead you are bending. Reply

Yisroyl Shimshun Melamed Miramar May 25, 2014

"I'm going to try harder" "with much more effort" to be as 'perfect' 'spiritually' as I can. That impetus, a TZADIK cannot experience. His ascension (The Tzadik), is continuously gradual and climbing higher and then higher. But the Baal Teshuva, because of his sin, in repenting, he creates a deep desire to gain victory over his sin. The intensity of the feeling/desire to ascend over this sin is much higher in intensity than anything the Tzadik can experience. Thus, that place of great intensity and desire to commit loyalty to Hashem is a place where the Tzadik cannot reach. Reply

Anonymous May 14, 2013

On sin and leaving sin... A simple metaphore:

If you were to have a child who lived in your neighborhood...close enough for you to connect with every day you might be happy to see him or her, but it is a daily, not all too irregular occurance.
Now consider you have a child who lives on the other side of the world, and that the child had not been able to visit for a very long time and had to persevere over many instances just to get home to see his or her mother or father. When this child returned home, would it not a very joyous occassion...very different from the everyday visit of your child who lives near by? Reply

Gavin-Chaim Marsden Cape Town, South Africa May 31, 2012

The Sotah Thank you Chana for a wonderful and inspiring shiur.In my humble opinion,the name of Hashem is not erased.Its form is changed.The Sotah is well aware of her innocence for otherwise she would not put herself through the this potentially traumatic experience.Hashem resides within us through the Shechinah.By swallowing the the merciful Name of Hashem in physical form,the spiritual Shechinah is strengthened.That is why she is blessed with such wonderful children after the experience.The husbands doubting his wifes fidelity is his folly,not hers.She is perfectly innocent.Secluding oneself with a man other then your husband is indeed regretable but not punishable...Your insights on the Ba'al Teshuva and the Tzaddik were enlightening.I have a question for you.In religious tradition an obligatory act,such as a mitzvah is preferrable to a spontaneous spiritual act.Surely the Tzaddik should then be on a higher level then the Ba'al Teshuva?Shabbat Shalom to you and your family Reply

Anonymous mesa May 29, 2012

Following your conversation about the zaddik and the repentant. I believe that as the lady in white at your table said. Once a repentant turn his/her life around, those that have been watching this person, wonder about the miracle. This procedure brings meditation on the Power of the Almighty when someone repents. It changes this person's life and heart. As well as those around the repentant. This was a beautiful teaching Chana Weisberg. Thank you so much. Reply

Anonymous Ottawa May 29, 2012

What is sin? i found this seminar to be extremely interesting and enlightening.

Sin creates a 'space of questioning' that creates a (albeit 'false') sense of distance between self and G-d; it allows renewal & transformation because through the teshuva, new building blocks of a new understanding are reached: through torah learning & the purification rites described in scripture.

how can she be merited the new souls if she has not questioned? because its the questioning that creates the 'space' for her correction/tikkun.

thanks for breathing new life into what often reads like a closed book, one-sided interpretation of reading in the Bk of Numbers. Also really enjoy the great study notes that you provide. Thank you Chana. Reply

A Taste of Text

Each 20-minute video class uses a text from the weekly Torah portion to convey a contemporary insight on leading a more enriched life. Source sheets are included to help students follow along and gain a "taste" of the actual texts studied.

The Suspected Adulteress: A Taste of Text—Naso

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