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Pinchas’ act of zealousness was pure, motivated by his desire to avenge the desecration of Hashem’s Name.  He executed his deed, unaware of the identity of his victims or who witnessed   his zealous act.  He  focused only on one thing – to put an end to the public humiliation of Hashem and His leadership.  What gave Pinchas the courage to act in this manner?  While his intentions were certainly noble, only  a uniquely inspired person can achieve what Pinchas did.  What is the source of that inspiration? In a departure from the usual interpretation of the word, “b’socham,” “among…

In the Talmud Zevachim 101a, Chazal tell us that Pinchas did not become a Kohen, member of the Priesthood, until he killed Zimri. Hashem gave the Kehunah only  to Aharon  and his sons, who were anointed at the same time.  The offspring to be born to these sons after the anointing would be Kohanim.  Pinchas, who was neither anointed nor born afterwards, was therefore not included in the Kehunah.  This Chazal raises a number of questions.  First, why was Pinchas not anointed?  Second, when Pinchas became a Kohen, his kedushah – sanctity – was unique.  It was not kedushas Aharon;…

It is interesting to note that the word chatas, sin-offering, is followed by,  “l’Hashem,” to Hashem, a term  which is not used anywhere else in the Torah.  The he-goats of the Korban Mussaf were brought to atone for sins involving tumah, ritual contamination. When an individual  was tamei he either entered the Bais Hamikdash or ate kodoshim, sacrificial meat to offer his sacrifice.  Rashi explains that the addition of the word “l’Hashem”  indicates the extent of error on the part of the tamei person.  He was unaware either before or afterwards that he was tamei. Only Hashem knew of the…