Pinchas – Page 5 – Peninim on the Torah

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

Kanaus, for the most part, is a frightening word. It refers either to someone who is a great tzaddik, whose love for Hashem is so intense that it impels him to act in a manner which some individuals consider extreme; or an extremist, who is always on the lookout for a good fight. There is a fine line which separates the two. This is why it is frightening. Some think that kanaus is a rite of passage, a segway for achieving gadlus baTorah, distinction in the field of Torah. They feel that, unless they have taken down a few misguided…

Home -> 5774 -> Pinchas

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5774

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

Obviously, it was “among them.” Pinchas did not go into a backroom to negotiate a settlement between the sinners. He acted decisively within sight of the entire nation. Horav Yehudah Tzedakah, zl, explains that the Torah places emphasis on the b’socham, among them, to teach us that Pinchas did not fear repercussion. His sincerity and love were apparent as he placed Hashem and His Glory above his personal life and welfare. He epitomizes the true kanai, zealot. Indeed, in his commentary to Bereishis 18:26, “If I find fifty righteous (persons) within (b’soch) the city,” Ibn Ezra writes, “Those who fear…

Home -> 5773 -> Pinchas

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5773

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

Kanaus, zealousness, is not a trait that one should exhibit indiscriminately. As the paradigm of the kanai, zealot, Pinchas exemplifies the true zealot. He acts definitively for the sake of the community, placing the needs of the klal, congregation, above his own safety and reputation. The kanai is not lauded; dinners are not rendered in his honor, nor does he have a large collection of friends. People are actually afraid of him, never knowing where and when he will strike; what will anger him; what he will see that is wrong. The kanai lives in a select circle, revered by…

Home -> 5773 -> Pinchas

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5773

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

Pinchas was acting according to halachah: Boel aramis kanaim pogin bo, “One who cohabits with a gentile, zealous ones may strike him.” If so, why is he referred to as a kanai, zealot? He was just doing what any other observant Jew would/should have done. Indeed, Chazal imply that Hashem chastised Moshe Rabbeinu for remaining passive during the moral outrage that took place. As a result, Moshe’s gravesite remains unknown to us. Chazal derive from here that one must be “bold as a leopard, as nimble as an eagle, as swift as a deer, and as mighty as a lion…

Home -> 5773 -> Pinchas

אך בגורל יחלק את הארץ לשמות מטות אבתם ינחלו. על פי הגורל תחלק נחלתו בין רב למעט

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5773

Only by lot shall the land be divided; according to the names of the tribes of the father shall they receive it as a possession. According to lot, shall their inheritance be apportioned to them, with due regard for whether they are many or few. (26:55,56)

The land was divided by a system which clearly treats the land as an estate left by the preceding generation, the yotzei Mitzrayim, Jews who participated in the Egyptian exodus. Each of the fathers of those who left Egypt was designated to receive a portion in the Holy Land equivalent to the number of grandsons twenty years of age and older who would eventually enter Eretz Yisrael. This estate could be inherited only by those of the sons who were more than twenty years old when they left Egypt. These sons, in turn, could bequeath the land to those of…

Home -> 5773 -> Pinchas

ויסמך ידו עליו ויצוהו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5773

He leaned his hands upon him and commanded him. (27:23)

Yehoshua merited becoming Moshe Rabbeinu’s successor – a designation that eluded the most astute and most brilliant of the nation’s leadership. Apparently, Yehoshua possessed qualities which gave him precedence over the others. What about Yehoshua distinguished him so? Indeed, Moshe was great from day one. His birth illuminated the entire house. There is no question that, from the time of his entry into this world, Moshe was heads above everyone. The commentators do not seem to feel this way concerning Yehoshua. Indeed, some even feel that he was not worthy of the appellation, ben Torah. His relationship vis-à-vis his Rebbe,…

Home -> 5772 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5772

“When he zealously avenged My vengeance among them.” (25:11)

Defining the word kinah, jealousy, righteous indignation, Rashi writes, “Any form of the word kinah in the Torah refers to the individual who settles a score to avenge the vengeance of a matter.” Rashi is teaching us a profound lesson. The fact that all of the references in the Torah to the word kinah refer to vengeance, settling a score, implies that even when one person is jealous of another, when one neighbor has a nicer car than another, it is not just simple jealousy; rather, it is vengeance. How are we to understand this? What did my neighbor do…

Home -> 5772 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5772

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

It is a well-known maxim that Hashem remunerates middah k’neged middah, measure for measure. This pasuk raises many questions. First, what is the relationship between Pinchas’ act of zealousness and the blessing of eternal priesthood for his descendants? Second, when the Torah says “Pinchas saw,” it seems to imply that Pinchas saw what no one else saw. Were they not all there to witness the dastardly act committed by Zimri? The previous Gerrer Rebbe, Horav Pinchas Menachem Alter, z.l., cites the Baal Shem Tov, who relates in the name of the Arizal, that Hashem shows a person only that which…

Home -> 5772 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5772

“Harass the Midyanim and smite them.” (25:17)

Hashem commanded Moshe Rabbeinu to do battle with Midyan because of that nation’s malicious attempt to destroy Klal Yisrael’s spiritual standing. Their attempt to corrupt the Jewish People warranted their destruction. This punishment is different than that which was meted out against the Egyptians. The Torah in Sefer Devarim 23:8 insists that the Egyptians not be rejected. Is this equitable? One would think that the nation that tried so hard to destroy us physically would deserve a more severe punishment than the Midyanim, who “merely” attempted to corrupt us. Chazal have a different perspective than we have. They view a…

Home -> 5772 -> Pinchas

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Pinchas, 5772

“He (Moshe) took Yehoshua and stood him before Elazar the Kohen and before the entire assembly.” (27:22)

The Yalkut describes the scene in which Yehoshua was “handed over” to the assembly, as Moshe Rabbeinu presented his successor to the nation. Moshe and the people lifted their heads to listen to Yehoshua. What did Yehoshua say? He said, “Blessed is Hashem Who gave the Torah to His Nation, Yisrael, through Moshe Rabbeinu.” We all know that a leader’s inauguration address sets the tone for his administration. His remarks are carefully weighed and articulated in the best possible manner. Ostensibly, Yehoshua was no different. He meticulously prepared his first major address, his acceptance speech, with care and deliberation. Why…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Pinchas ->

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם

When he zealously avenged Me among them. (25:11)

אך בגורל יחלק את הארץ לשמות מטות אבתם ינחלו. על פי הגורל תחלק נחלתו בין רב למעט

Only by lot shall the land be divided; according to the names of the tribes of the father shall they receive it as a possession. According to lot, shall their inheritance be apportioned to them, with due regard for whether they are many or few. (26:55,56)

ויסמך ידו עליו ויצוהו

He leaned his hands upon him and commanded him. (27:23)

“When he zealously avenged My vengeance among them.” (25:11)

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

“Harass the Midyanim and smite them.” (25:17)

“He (Moshe) took Yehoshua and stood him before Elazar the Kohen and before the entire assembly.” (27:22)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!