Pinchas – Peninim on the Torah

“The sons of Reuven, of Chanoch, the family of Chanochi.” (26:5)

Rashi cites Chazal who state that Hashem added two letters of His Name to each Jewish family name. He added the letter, v hay, as a prefix, and the letter h yud, as a suffix. These letters form a Name of Hashem which attests to the purity of Klal Yisrael. What does it mean to have Hashem’s Name attached to ours? What responsibilities are evoked as a result of having the Name of the Almighty integrated with ours? In the Shemoneh Esrai which is recited on Yom Tov, we say ub,rjc v,tw “You have chosen us.” At the end of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5755

“Therefore, say: ‘Behold I give him My covenant of peace. And it should be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal priesthood.” (25:12,13)

If one were to look in a Sefer Torah or even in many Chumash texts, it would be noticeable that the vov, ( u ), of the word ouka, peace, is somewhat broken. This is referred to as a a broken vov. What is signified by the break in the vov of shalom? Horav Shlomo Yosef Zevin, z.l., offers the following novel insight. There are two forms of unity. The first one is mechanical, perfunctory or automatic unity. This is an external consolidation of different parts, merged together to create the appearance of wholeness. The second form of unity is…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5755

“Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the son of Aharon Ha’Kohen turned back My wrath from upon the Bnei Yisrael when he zealously avenged Me amongst them.” (25:11)

Pinchas’ act of zealousness is described in Parashas Balak, while his reward is presented in this parsha. Was it necessary to “wait” between the deed and the reward? Horav Yitzchak Goldwasser, Shlita, explains that, indeed, it was necessary to contemplate whether a reward was appropriate! This concept applies to every act of kana’us, zealousness. Is it truly a deed motivated l’shem Shomayim, for the sake of Heaven, and — therefore — worthy of reward Or is it what it appears to be — a wanton act of murder cloaked in a banner of zealousness? Only after contemplating the act, the…

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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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“The sons of Reuven, of Chanoch, the family of Chanochi.” (26:5)

“Therefore, say: ‘Behold I give him My covenant of peace. And it should be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal priesthood.” (25:12,13)

“Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the son of Aharon Ha’Kohen turned back My wrath from upon the Bnei Yisrael when he zealously avenged Me amongst them.” (25:11)

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

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