Pinchas – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon Ha’kohen turned back My wrath from upon the Bnei Yisrael. (25:11)

Upon consideration, did Pinchas really have to act in such a drastic manner? He is lauded for avenging the honor of Hashem. Was there no other way to prevent Zimri from performing his reprehensible act of rebellion against Hashem? Could Pinchas not have chosen a less “final” — and perhaps more conciliatory — solution for the “Zimri” problem? This is the type of question that plagues those who do not quite understand the meaning of the term “kanai,” zealot. Pinchas was not a reactionary who unleashed his uncontrollable anger, killing innocent people. He was not a religious maniac whose lack…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5757

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon Ha’kohen turned back My wrath from upon the Bnei Yisrael when he zealously avenged Me among them…Behold! I give him My covenant of Peace…And it shall be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal priesthood. (25: 11,12, 13)

Pinchas receives the ultimate reward–Kehunas olam–eternal priesthood. This blessing of everlasting priesthood was not bestowed upon anyone else. It was not bestowed neither upon Moshe the lawgiver, nor Aharon the Kohen, who was the paradigmatic peacemaker. Horav Moshe Swift, zl, notes that the blessing of continuity, the concept of uninterrupted service to Hashem, was neither a product of the service in the Mikdash nor the teaching in the Bais Ha’midrash. While these contribute to future development, they do not actually forge the links in the chain of continuity. They do not create a “lo ul’zaro acharav” for him and his…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5757

He was zealous for My sake in their midst…Because he was zealous for his G-d and made atonement for the Bnei Yisrael. (25:11,13)

What is the significance of the fact that Pinchas performed his act of zealousness “in their midst”? Sforno comments that Pinchas avenged Hashem’s honor in the sight of all. Although they had originally seen Zimri’s despicable act, and they did not protest, they could find atonement for not protesting against Pinchas. What Sforno is saying is that the masses were guilty of apathy. They witnessed blatant acts of harlotry and idolatry, yet they failed to object or to intervene. Their atonement would now be attained by permitting Pinchas to publicly carry out his act of zealousness. Sforno teaches us that…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5757

Yocheved, daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. (26:59)

Yocheved was counted among the original seventy souls that accompanied Yaakov Avinu as he went down to Egypt. Horav Eli Munk, zl, in his commentary Kol Ha’torah, notes that Yocheved was placed at the core of this genealogy. He attributes this honor to her exceptional destiny. She married her nephew, Amram, a union that was legitimate only because the Torah had not yet been given. When Pharaoh decreed that all new-born Jewish boys be put to death, her husband divorced her. At the time, she was three months pregnant with Moshe. Her daughter Miriam, inspired by Ruach Ha’kodesh, convinced her…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“Therefore say: I give unto him My covenant of peace.” (25:12)

Pinchas was rewarded with peace; Hashem would be amicable towards him as a symbol of His gratitude. Ibn Ezra interprets this peace as a protection from retaliation at the hands of Zimri’s henchmen and friends. Regardless of the type of peace, we may question the form of middah k’neged middah, measure for measure, of this reward. The reward is to be commensurate with the mitzvah. Pinchas performed an act of zealousness; should his reward be a covenant of peace? Horav M.D. Solveitzchik, Shlita, cites his grandfather, Rav Chaim Brisker, zl, who commented that Pinchas’s act of kana’us was in reality…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“And it shall be for him… a covenant of eternal priesthood, because he took vengeance for his G-d and he atoned for the Bnei Yisrael.” (25:13)

The text of the pasuk seems inconsistent. Did Pinchas achieve vengeance only for “his G-d”? Should the Torah not have said that he took vengeance for the G-d of all of Yisrael, in the plural? Was Pinchas acting as a member of Klal Yisrael or not? The Ozrover Rebbe, zl, infers from here that one must serve Hashem as if he were the only person in the world and that his mitzvah is the only mitzvah that will be performed! This is in keeping with the dictum of Chazal in the Talmud Sanhedrin 37a who say that everyone should feel…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“And the daughters of Tzlafchad drew near… and they stood before Moshe… Our father died in the desert.. and he had no son… Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.” (27:1,2,3,4,5)

The Midrash comments that when Moshe learned that Tzlafchad’s daughters would inherit their father’s property, he decided that the time had come for him to appoint an inheritor for his position. Consequently, he requested that Hashem designate his two sons to assume his position. We may question Moshe Rabbeinu’s timing. Tzlafchad’s daughters were seeking material possessions, while Moshe’s request was for spiritual continuity. What relationship is there between the two? Horav Mordechai Rogov, zl, posits that Tzlafchad’s daughters’ request was not motivated by material needs. Rather, it was spiritual in nature. One’s inheritance tends to bond a child to his…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Take to yourself Yehoshua ben Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lean your hand upon him.'” (27:18)

Our parsha begins by recounting Pinchas’s courageous act of zealousness which took place in the presence of Moshe Rabbeinu and the entire Jewish leadership. Everyone stood watching while Zimri flaunted his repulsive act. Yet, only one person stepped forth and followed through with the halachic demand for purging Klal Yisrael of this incursion. Pinchas demonstrated decisiveness in reacting to Zimri’s transgression. He was not concerned with “what people might say.” He did not act impulsively. He responded bravely to the travesty, catalyzing an end to a tragic episode in the history of Klal Yisrael. It would, therefore, seem natural that…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5756

“And Hashem said unto Moshe, ‘Take to you Yehoshua… and you shall put of your honor upon him that all the congregation of Bnei Yisrael shall listen.” (27:18,20)

In the Talmud Bava Basra 75a Chazal remark, “Of your honor – but not all of your honor.” The elders of that generation said, “The face of Moshe is like that of the sun, while the face of Yehoshua is similar to that of the moon. Woe to such embarrassment; woe to such humiliation.” We are taught that Yehoshua’s spiritual brilliance paled in comparison to that of Moshe. Indeed, the elders who observed this apparent disparity viewed Yehoshua as an embarrassment in light of Moshe. We must endeavor to understand Chazal’s statement. Is it common to find someone whose spiritual…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5755

Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the son of Aharon Ha’Kohen.” (25:11)

Chazal question the Torah’s tracing of Pinchas’ ancestry by placing emphasis upon the fact that he was a grandson of Aharon Ha’Kohen. They explain that after Zimri’s death, members of Shimon’s Shevet, who were cousins of Zimri, chided the members of Shevet Levi. They felt that they could not believe Pinchas was a true zealot. After all, on his mother’s side he was a grandson of Yisro, who used to fatten calves for idols. Could it be that such a person really had sincere motivation, or did he assassinate the Nasi of Shevet Shimon out of hatred or feelings of…

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Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon Ha’kohen turned back My wrath from upon the Bnei Yisrael. (25:11)

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon Ha’kohen turned back My wrath from upon the Bnei Yisrael when he zealously avenged Me among them…Behold! I give him My covenant of Peace…And it shall be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal priesthood. (25: 11,12, 13)

He was zealous for My sake in their midst…Because he was zealous for his G-d and made atonement for the Bnei Yisrael. (25:11,13)

Yocheved, daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. (26:59)

“Therefore say: I give unto him My covenant of peace.” (25:12)

“And it shall be for him… a covenant of eternal priesthood, because he took vengeance for his G-d and he atoned for the Bnei Yisrael.” (25:13)

“And the daughters of Tzlafchad drew near… and they stood before Moshe… Our father died in the desert.. and he had no son… Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.” (27:1,2,3,4,5)

“Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Take to yourself Yehoshua ben Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lean your hand upon him.'” (27:18)

“And Hashem said unto Moshe, ‘Take to you Yehoshua… and you shall put of your honor upon him that all the congregation of Bnei Yisrael shall listen.” (27:18,20)

Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the son of Aharon Ha’Kohen.” (25:11)

YEARS

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