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ובני קרח לא מתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Pinchas, 5777

And the sons of Korach did not die. (26:11)

The sons of Korach were (originally) in the thick of the dispute against Moshe Rabbeinu. Rashi explains that, at the very last moment, they repented. Regardless of how far one has drifted from Jewish observance, how distant he has strayed from traditional life and Torah values, he can return and be reinstated. People think that once they have rejected the Torah way it is impossible to come back. This is categorically incorrect. The Ponevezer Rav, zl, was about to leave on a journey to the United States. His revered Rebbe, the Chafetz Chaim, zl, was still alive. The Rav went…

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Home -> 5777 -> Pinchas

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן השיב את חמתי מעל בני ישראל בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Pinchas, 5777

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen, turned back my wrath from upon Bnei Yisrael, when he zealously avenged My vengeance among them. (25:11)

Pinchas did not act in a vacuum. The entire nation witnessed his actions. What were they doing? Some were (of course) complaining and disparaging his lineage, claiming that his motives were impure. According to Targum Yonasan, the rest cried and recited Krias Shema. They cried, explains Chezkuni, because Moshe Rabbeinu had instructed them to kill the perpetrators who had sinned with the Midyanite women. It was a difficult order to carry out. Shevet Levi, who were once again empowered to be the righteous executioners, did not seem to have an issue (earlier) when the order came to kill the offenders…

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Home -> 5777 -> Pinchas

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Pinchas, 5777

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen. (25:11)

The Torah traces Pinchas’ lineage to Aharon HaKohen. What about his maternal grandfather, Yisro? The Torah appears to gloss over his connection to Pinchas. Rashi explains that, as usual, people must find fault with the hero who saves the day. Otherwise, they might look bad, since, after all, why did they not take action? As usual, we put down the individual who acted decisively because it bothers us that he did – and we did not. They brought to our attention that Pinchas descended from Yisro, the Midyanite Priest, who fattened calves for avodah zarah, idol-worship. How could such a…

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Home -> 5777 -> Pinchas

פנחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן השיב את חמתי... לכן אמר הנני נתן לו את בריתי שלום

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Pinchas, 5777

Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen, turned back my wrath… therefore say: Behold! I give him My Covenant of peace. (25:11,12)

When an opportunity for greatness appears, most people remain spectators, afraid to make that critical move due to fear of failure, indifference, or just plain laziness. One person, however, will emerge from within the crowd and seize the moment to grab the opportunity. As a result, he will save the day and change the course of his own life. Zimri, Prince of the Tribe of Shimon, blatantly carried out an act of moral turpitude, and, had Pinchas not immediately and decisively intervened, Klal Yisrael would have suffered even greater losses than it did. It took extraordinary courage for Pinchas to…

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