The INCREDIBLE story from the Talmud

At the end of Tractate Sukkah the Talmud tells the story of Miriam, daughter of Bilga, bringing a lesson from her story: “Good is for the righteous, and good will be for his neighbor.” If such an important lesson stems from her story she deserves some reward. What was the story of Miriam, daughter of Bilga? The Talmud tells us that she abandoned Judaism – the worst possible fall. Then she married a gentile Greek officer. What else did she do? When the Greeks stormed the Holy Temple, she pounded the Altar, crying out: “Wolf, wolf! You consume the Jewish People’s wealth, but you don’t answer them in their time of need!” – a minor offense compared to apostasy and intermarriage. She renounced her faith, she married a Greek, she joined the enemy who conquered the Holy Temple and who placed a profane animal upon the Holy Altar… Yet why was her dynasty punished? Because she struck the Altar with a sandal. But herein lies a profound message: The verse in Zephaniah states: “You alone have I known from all the nations of the earth; therefore I will exact judgment for your sins.” God holds a Jew accountable for his actions precisely because of His love for the Jew. Only because God loves His People does it bother Him if they stray… It may appear that a Jew is cut off from everything… Torah says: No! Cut off? Not at all! What you see is only superficial. Torah may speak of “spiritual excision”, etc… But the fact remains – he is a Jew! And so his every action, concerns God Almighty Himself. A Jewish girl who renounced her religion and married a non-Jew… it matters to God how she acts in the presence of the Holy Altar. This, then, shows the greatness of the Jewish soul: no matter its outward spiritual appearance, even in the lowest spiritual abyss – even during the sin itself, the soul is bound to God Almighty Himself. It is not surprising, then, that despite her tragic story she teaches us: “Good is for the righteous, and good will be for his neighbor” – of which Rashi writes, “the power of good is infinitely greater.” Through whom is this powerful Torah teaching revealed? Through none other than Miriam bas Bilga. And this is because the Jewish soul is good – only, as Maimonides writes, “his evil inclination coerced him”, even to such a pitiful state… But to give up on a Jew…? God forbid! And if giving up is not an option, the only choice is action – and your action will certainly succeed, for the verse promises: “not one Jew will be lost.” This, then, is actually a tribute to Miriam bas Bilga: Her story illustrates that even after she apostatized, and intermarried, and joined the enemy who trod into the Holy Temple – they were impure, and certainly she was… What bothered her? “Why is the Altar not protecting the Jews?” Here we see what a Jewish child is. She married the Greek who attacked her people, conquered Jerusalem, conquered the Holy Temple and the Holy Altar; and she accompanied him, as his wife, all the way… But when she sees her fellow Jew suffering, she cries out: “Wolf, wolf! Why don’t you help the Jew?” Why does the Talmud tell us this story? Not, God forbid, to disparage a Jewess… Quite the contrary: the Talmud records it to teach us what a Jew really is. What is the lesson for all generations? When you meet a fellow Jew on the street who does not appear to live a Torah lifestyle – and when you ask him, he doesn’t even deny it… You might be taken aback and think: “What connection do I have with him?” The Talmud tells you: This Jew can reveal the teaching “Good is for the righteous, and good will be for his neighbor.” But it depends on you. If you speak from the heart, your words will penetrate his heart, and affect him. He will then become <i>your</i> neighbor, – and your lifestyle is one of Torah and Mitzvos, so you will both have good, as we learn from Miriam bas Bilga: “Good is for the righteous and for his neighbor.” Why be <i>his</i> neighbor, of which the Talmud says, “Woe to the wicked, woe to his neighbor…”? Instead, take this opportunity arranged by Divine Providence, and make him into <i>your</i> neighbor. You live a Torah lifestyle; help him to emulate you to follow the path of Torah and Mitzvos.