Icebreaker: What Would You Do?
1. You see a baby floating in a basket in the river. What would you do?
2. Your friend is getting hit on at a party and you don't think she is enjoying it. What would you do?
3. You don't approve of your sibling's relationship. What would you do?
4. You and your friends have finally left somewhere you felt trapped (school, work, prison, boring meetings, group projects.) What would you do?
5. You want to create a community where everyone feels comfortable. What would you do?
(4) And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. (5) And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in the river; and her maidens walked along by the river-side; and she saw the ark among the flags, and sent her handmaid to fetch it. (6) And she opened it, and saw it, even the child; and behold a boy that wept. And she had compassion on him, and said: ‘This is one of the Hebrews’children.’ (7) Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter: ‘Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?’ (8) And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her: ‘Go.’ And the maiden went and called the child’s mother.
ותען להם מרים: משה אמר שירה לאנשים, הוא אומר והם עונין אחריו, ומרים אמרה שירה לנשים:
And Miriam called out to them: Moses said the Song to the men, and they answered after him, and Miriam said the song to the women [and they too repeated it]. — [from Mechilta]
ותדבר מרים ואהרן: היא פתחה בדבור תחילה, לפיכך הקדימה הכתוב תחלה, ומנין היתה יודעת מרים שפרש משה מן האשה, רבי נתן אומר, מרים היתה בצד צפורה בשעה שנאמר למשה אלדד ומידד מתנבאים במחנה, כיון ששמעה צפורה, אמרה אוי לנשותיהן של אלו אם הם נזקקים לנבואה שיהיו פורשין מנשותיהן כדרך שפרש בעלי ממני, ומשם ידעה מרים והגידה לאהרן. ומה מרים שלא נתכוונה לגנותו, כך נענשה, קל וחומר למספר בגנותו של חבירו:
Miriam and Aaron spoke: She spoke first. Therefore, Scripture mentions her first. How did she know that Moses had separated from his wife? [See below] R. Nathan says: Miriam was beside Zipporah when Moses was told that Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp. When Zipporah heard this, she said,“Woe to their wives if they are required to prophesy, for they will separate from their wives just my husband separated from me.” From this, Miriam knew [about it] and told Aaron. Now if Miriam, who did not intend to disparage him [Moses] was punished, all the more so someone who [intentionally] disparages his fellow.
אל נא תהי: אחותנו זו:
Do not let her be: This sister of ours. |
והעם לא נסע: זה הכבוד חלק לה המקום בשביל שעה אחת שנתעכבה למשה כשהושלך ליאור, שנאמר (שמות ב, ד) ותתצב אחותו מרחוק וגו
the people did not travel: This honor was accorded her by the Omnipresent because of the time she remained with Moses when he was cast into the river, as it says,“His sister stood by from afar to know what would be done to him” (Exod. 2:4). - [Sotah 9b]
Reflection
Miriam begins her life as the unnamed guardian of the baby Moses in the basket. The next time we hear about her she is leading the women across the parted sea in song and dance. In the third instance listed here, Miriam is slandering and speaking ill of her brother's marriage.
1. What are Miriam's positive attributes and what are her negative attributes?
2. Do you have any similar traits to Miriam? What are they?
3. Would you have acted similarly or differently in the situations in which she is placed?
4. What lessons can you learn for yourself from Miriam's actions?
It's On Us Pledge
To RECOGNIZE that non-consensual sex is sexual assault.
To IDENTIFY situations in which sexual assault may occur.
To INTERVENE in situations where consent has not or cannot be given.
To CREATE an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported.
The It's On Us Campaign
The It's On Us Campaign asks us to look at our actions closely as well. It asks us to recognize, identify, intervene and create.
1. Did Miriam do any of these things? Was she successful in creating a comfortable environment for everyone?
2. What could Miriam have done differently?
3. Can you commit to taking the It's On Us Pledge?
4. What will this entail on your end?