In an era in which leaders are judged by the photogenic looks and their sound-bite speeches, we remind ourselves of that blend of personal integrity and practical applicability that the Torah looks for in its leaders.
Is a woman eligible to receive an inheritance? Scripture's answer to this question is clear: A woman does not inherit. Accordingly, if a person fathered only daughters but no sons, his estate passes to his brother and not to his own offspring. Nevertheless, five women, the daughters of Tzelofchad from the tribe of Menashe, appear before Moshe and tell him their story: