MAIN SOURCES
[I] SPIRITUAL CHUTZPAH: raising the ax of radical imagination to splinter an oppressive “fact” of life and unleash a flood of justice, healing, and creativity.
The name "Miriam" has five different meanings that map to Miriam's five-fold path. The translation of Miriam's name that's associated with the element of Spiritual Chutzpah is Meri, rebellion, or Morim, Rebels. A follower of Miriam who has spiritual Chutzpah is channeling Meri energy.
After the ancestor Miriam passes into the spirit world, her followers are unhappy with the alternative patriarchal leadership of Moses. Moses berates Miriam's followers as "Morim":
(י) וַיַּקְהִ֜לוּ מֹשֶׁ֧ה וְאַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־הַקָּהָ֖ל אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַסָּ֑לַע וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם שִׁמְעוּ־נָא֙ הַמֹּרִ֔ים הֲמִן־הַסֶּ֣לַע הַזֶּ֔ה נוֹצִ֥יא לָכֶ֖ם מָֽיִם׃
(10) Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation in front of the rock; and he said to them, “Listen, you Morim/Miriam people/rebels, shall we get water for you out of this rock?”
The energy of Miriam is established in the spirit realm and pre-civilization:
(כד) כָּל נָשִׁין זַכְיָין דְּהַאי דָּרָא, אָתָאן לְמִרְיָם אוּף הָכָא בְּהָנֵי זִמְנִין. וּכְדֵין סַלְּקִין כֻּלְּהוּ, כְּתִמְרוֹת עָשָׁן גּוֹ מַדְבְּרָא דָּא. וְהַהוּא יוֹמָא, אִקְרֵי יוֹמָא דְּהִלּוּלָא. נָשִׁין בְּלֵילֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת וּבְלֵילֵי יוֹמִין טָבִין, כֻּלְּהוּ אָתָאן לְגַבֵּי מִרְיָם, וְיַדְעִין אִשְׁתַּדְּלוּתָא בִּידִיעָה דְּמָארֵי עָלְמָא. זַכָּאָה דָּרָא דָּא, מִכָּל דָּרִין דְּעָלְמָא...
(24) All the virtuous women/people of that generation* come to Miriam--- even now, in these times. Then they all ascend like columns of smoke.** And that day is called a day of celebration/a wedding day. Women, on the nights of Shabbat/rest and the nights of holy days, all of them come to Miriam and they comprehend the work of knowing mastery of the Universe. Happy is this generation from all generations of the world.
*Those who wander in wildernesses
**Signals of Divine guidance in the wilderness
...עֲשָׂרָה דְּבָרִים נִבְרְאוּ בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, אֵלּוּ הֵן: בְּאֵר, וְהַמָּן, וְקֶשֶׁת, כְּתָב, וּמַכְתֵּב, וְהַלּוּחוֹת, וְקִבְרוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה, וּמְעָרָה שֶׁעָמַד בּוֹ מֹשֶׁה וְאֵלִיָּהוּ, פְּתִיחַת פִּי הָאָתוֹן, וּפְתִיחַת פִּי הָאָרֶץ לִבְלוֹעַ אֶת הָרְשָׁעִים.
...Ten phenomena were created on the first Shabbat eve during twilight. They were: Miriam’s well, and the manna, and the rainbow, writing [ketav], and the writing instrument [mikhtav], and the tablets of the Ten Commandments, and the grave of Moses, and the cave in which Moses and Elijah stood, the opening of the mouth of Balaam’s donkey, and the opening of the earth’s mouth to swallow the wicked.
Miriam displaying Spiritual Chutzpah throughout her life. This quality radiates in the earliest stories of her as a young child:
תָּנָא: עַמְרָם גְּדוֹל הַדּוֹר הָיָה. כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁאָמַר פַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע ״כׇּל הַבֵּן הַיִּלּוֹד הַיְאֹרָה תַּשְׁלִיכֻהוּ״, אָמַר: לַשָּׁוְא אָנוּ עֲמֵלִין, עָמַד וְגֵירַשׁ אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ. עָמְדוּ כּוּלָּן וְגֵירְשׁוּ אֶת נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶן. אָמְרָה לוֹ בִּתּוֹ: אַבָּא, קָשָׁה גְּזֵירָתְךָ יוֹתֵר מִשֶּׁל פַּרְעֹה. שֶׁפַּרְעֹה לֹא גָּזַר אֶלָּא עַל הַזְּכָרִים, וְאַתָּה גָּזַרְתָּ עַל הַזְּכָרִים וְעַל הַנְּקֵיבוֹת. פַּרְעֹה לָא גָּזַר אֶלָּא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְאַתָּה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּלְעוֹלָם הַבָּא. פַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע — סָפֵק מִתְקַיֶּימֶת גְּזֵירָתוֹ, סָפֵק אֵינָהּ מִתְקַיֶּימֶת. אַתָּה צַדִּיק, בְּוַדַּאי שֶׁגְּזֵירָתְךָ מִתְקַיֶּימֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְתִגְזַר אוֹמֶר וְיָקׇם לָךְ״. עָמַד וְהֶחְזִיר אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ, עָמְדוּ כּוּלָּן וְהֶחְזִירוּ אֶת נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶן.
A Sage teaches: Amram was the great man of his generation. Once he saw that the wicked Pharaoh said: “Every son that is born you shall cast into the river (Exodus 1:22), he said: We are laboring for nothing by bringing children into the world to be killed. Therefore, he arose and divorced his wife. All others who saw this followed his example and arose and divorced their wives. His daughter, Miriam, said to him: Father, your decree is more harsh for the Jewish people than that of Pharaoh, as Pharaoh decreed only with regard to the males, but you decreed both on the males and on the females. And now no children will be born. Additionally, Pharaoh decreed to kill them only in this world, but you decreed in this world and in the World-to-Come, as those not born will not enter the World-to-Come. Miriam continued: Additionally, concerning Pharaoh the wicked, it is uncertain whether his decree will be fulfilled, and it is uncertain if his decree will not be fulfilled. You are a righteous person, and as such, your decrees will certainly be fulfilled, as it is stated with regard to the righteous: “You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you” (Job 22:28). Amram accepted his daughter’s words and arose and brought back, i.e., remarried, his wife, and all others followed his example and arose and brought back their wives.
(טו) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙ שִׁפְרָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית פּוּעָֽה׃ (טז) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּיַלֶּדְכֶן֙ אֶת־הָֽעִבְרִיּ֔וֹת וּרְאִיתֶ֖ן עַל־הָאׇבְנָ֑יִם אִם־בֵּ֥ן הוּא֙ וַהֲמִתֶּ֣ן אֹת֔וֹ וְאִם־בַּ֥ת הִ֖וא וָחָֽיָה׃ (יז) וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְלֹ֣א עָשׂ֔וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ן מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃ (יח) וַיִּקְרָ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֔ת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ן מַדּ֥וּעַ עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ן הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַתְּחַיֶּ֖יןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִֽים׃ (יט) וַתֹּאמַ֤רְןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֧א כַנָּשִׁ֛ים הַמִּצְרִיֹּ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת כִּֽי־חָי֣וֹת הֵ֔נָּה בְּטֶ֨רֶם תָּב֧וֹא אֲלֵהֶ֛ן הַמְיַלֶּ֖דֶת וְיָלָֽדוּ׃ (כ) וַיֵּ֥יטֶב אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֑ת וַיִּ֧רֶב הָעָ֛ם וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ מְאֹֽד׃ (כא) וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי־יָרְא֥וּ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם בָּתִּֽים׃
(15) The king of Egypt spoke to the Ivri midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, (16) saying, “When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the birthstool: if it is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.” (17) The midwives, fearing Spirit, did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live. (18) So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, letting the boys live?” (19) The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Ivri women are not like the Egyptian women: they are animals. Before the midwife can come to them, they have given birth.” (20) And Spirit dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and increased greatly. (21) And because the midwives had awe of Spirit, lineages/households were made for them.
(ג) פועה. זוֹ מִרְיָם, שֶׁפּוֹעָה וּמְדַבֶּרֶת וְהוֹגָה לַוָּלָד (שם), כְּדֶרֶךְ הַנָּשִׁים הַמְפַיְּסוֹת תִּינוֹק הַבּוֹכֶה. (ד) פועה. לְשׁוֹן צְעָקָה, כְּמוֹ "כַּיּוֹלֵדָה אֶפְעֶה" (ישעיה מ"ב):
(3) פועה PUAH — This was Miriam, and she bore this additional name because she used to call aloud and speak and croon to the babe just as women do who soothe a child when it is crying (Sotah 11b). (4) פועה has the meaning of crying aloud, as (Isaiah 42:14) “I will cry (אפעה) like a travailing woman”.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES
Amram, father of Miriam, as Shamanic dreamer:
Excerpt of 4QVisions of Amram, Qumran Scroll 2-3 c. BCE
As presented in "The Dualism of 4QVisions of Amram" by Holly A Pearse
[and I will contemplate the Ir-in/angels/watchers whom I had seen] in my vision, the vision of the dream. vacat And lo two were quarreling over me and they said [... . .. his possessions] And they were holding over me a great debate and I asked them, ''How is it you that you thus exercise a domin[ation over me?" And they answered to me, ''We ... ] [are thus ru ]lers and exercise a domination over all sons of man," and they said to me, "By whom of us do yo[u choose to be ruled?" And, lo, I lifted my eyes, and saw] and/that] the appearance of [one] of them had shed [like an ad]der, [and all] his clo[th]ing was brightly-coloured, and dark was the shadow of [his face ... vacat] And the other, I looked] and lo.[ .. luminous] by his appearance and his face was smiling and [ (he was) covered in cloth of brilliant white ...
Rebecca Solnit
Facebook, 11/5/2024
“They want you to feel powerless and surrender and let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving.”
(יב) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בְּבִיאַת הַמָּשִֽׁיחַ וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיִּתְמַהְמֵֽהַּ עִם כָּל זֶה אֲחַכֶּה לּוֹ בְּכָל יוֹם שֶׁיָּבוֹא:
12. I believe with complete faith in the coming of liberation and even though it may tarry, nevertheless, I yearn every day for its coming.
Our non-patriarchal lineages have always known Miriam as a giver of Torah, but sometimes she is even acknowledged as such in the patriarchal lineages:
(ח) וַיִּקְרָא משֶׁה אֶל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל (דברים כט, א), הֲלָכָה, אָדָם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁעָמַד לִקְרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה מַהוּ שֶׁיְהֵא מֻתָּר לוֹ לִקְרוֹת פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלשָׁה פְּסוּקִים, כָּךְ שָׁנוּ חֲכָמִים הַקּוֹרֵא בַּתּוֹרָה לֹא יִפְחֹת מִשְּׁלשָׁה פְּסוּקִים. לִמְדוּנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ לָמָּה הִתְקִינוּ שֶׁלֹא יִפְחֹת מִשְּׁלשָׁה פְּסוּקִים, כְּנֶגֶד אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כְּנֶגֶד משֶׁה אַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם, שֶׁנִּתְּנָה תּוֹרָה עַל יְדֵיהֶן...
(8) “Moses summoned all Israel, and he said to them: You have seen everything that the Lord performed before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to his entire land” (Deuteronomy 29:1). “Moses summoned all Israel” – halakha: A person of Israel who stood to read the Torah, is it permitted for him to read fewer than three verses? So taught the Sages: One who reads the Torah may not do so with fewer than three verses.21Megilla 23b. Our Rabbis taught us: Why did they institute that he may not do so with fewer than three verses? ... it is corresponding to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, through whom the Torah was given.
(י) וַתִּירֶאןָ הַמְיַלְּדֹת אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ' (שמות א, יז). מַה פָּרַע לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, עָשָׂה לָהֶם בָּתִּים. וּמַה בָּתִּים עָשָׂה לָהֶם, בֵּית כְּהֻנָּה וּבֵית מַלְכוּת. יוֹכֶבֶד נָטְלָה כְּהֻנָּה וּמַלְכוּת, אַהֱרֹן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וּמֹשֶׁה מֶלֶךְ, וַיְהִי בִישְׁרוּן מֶלֶךְ (דברים לג, ה). וּמַה שָּׂכָר נָטְלָה מִרְיָם חָכְמָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: יִרְאַת אֲדֹנָי הִיא חָכְמָה (איוב כח, כח). שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנָּה בְּצַלְאֵל, שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ, וָאֲמַלֵּא אֹתוֹ רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים.
(10) Because the midwives feared God (ibid., v. 21).11See Sotah 11b. Tradition tells us that the two mid-wives, Shipra and Puah, were really Miriam and Jochebed. See Exodus Rabbah 1:13. How did the Holy One, blessed be He, reward them? He gave them houses. What houses did he give them? The house of priesthood and the house of kingship. Jochebed received priesthood and kingship, since Aaron became the high priest and Moses became a king: There was a king in Jerusalem (Deut. 33:5). What reward did Miriam receive for herself? Wisdom, as is said: The fear of the Lord is wisdom (Job 28:28), and it is written about Bezalel: And He hath filled him with the spirit of God, for he descended from her.
(יז) .... ומרים היא היתה המעוררת על התורה לפי שממנה יצא דוד המלך ע"ה והיה טמון בה כח זה של שלימות התורה ולעולם סוף מעשה במחשבה תחלה ונעוץ סופה בתחילתו ולכך ממנה היה התעוררות לידת התחלת התורה והיא נתנבאה עליו ...
(17)... Miriam was the awakening of Torah, since from her came King David PBUH, and in her was found the strength of the totality of Torah. And [the idea of] "the end of the act was in the beginning of thought" always applies, and her end was attached to his beginning, and therefore it was in her the stirring of the birth of the beginning of Torah, and she prophesied regarding him...