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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
This week’s parsha carries the name of Pinchas, son of Elazar, grandson of the Kohein Gadol, Aaron.
The backstory to this week’s parsha really begins in parshas Balak, When Bilaam attempts to curse Bnei Yisroel. But his words become words of blessing. In his failure, he gives Balak advice as to how to ignite HaShem’s anger towards Bnei Yisroel. His plan is to have the women of Moav, accompanied by their idols, seduce the men of Bnei Yisroel, bringing them to sin.
Pinchas is known as a kanai, a zealot. A devoted fighter for HaShem’s honor, determined to do the right thing. A man who not only had strong beliefs and values, but acted upon them.
Pinchas witnessed Zimri, a leader of the tribe of Shimon, engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Cozbi, daughter of the king of Midian, flagrantly defying HaShem and His Torah.
Pirkei Avos teaches us: “B’makom she’ein anashim, hishtadel li’hiyos ish, In a place where there are no leaders, strive to be a leader.” (Pirkei Avos 2:6).
Pinchas looked around. No one stood up to Zimri. In fact, it was as if the people were in a state of inertia. Paralyzed in their places. Pinchas’ conscience didn’t allow him to stand idly by. He had to do something. His adrenaline kicked in. Rashi tells us that Pinchas avenged HaShem’s revenge. He displayed the anger that HaShem should have displayed.
Rashi cites a Midrash that even during the times of Pinchas, shaming and name calling existed. There were those who sought to embarrass and challenge him. They referred to him as “Ben Puti”, a derogatory term referring to his grandfather, Yisro, who was also known as Putiel, referring to the fact he was “pitem” – he fattened calves to be sacrificed in idol worship. There were those who mocked Pinchas’ zealotry, saying “look at his background, look where he came from”.
But Rashi in Shemos cites a fascinating Gemara, that when attributing the lineage of Putiel to Pinchas, it does not necessarily refer only to Yisro, but also to his ancestor Yosef who is also called Putiel, “sheh’pitpeit b’yitzro, who scorned his desire and overcame it”. This, of course, refers to Yosef’s refusal to be enticed into an illicit relationship with the wife of the Egyptian minister, Potiphar.
The story of Pinchas teaches us a remarkable lesson. A person can have conflicting ancestral characteristics embodied within him, but we have the choice to cling to the positive, and find strength from within the good, rather than being dragged down by negativity.
In recognition of Pinchas’ strength, the Torah mentions his lineage back to Aaron HaKohein. “Pinchas ben Elazar, ben Aaron Hakohein, Pinchas the son of Elazar, the son of Aaron HaKohein.” Further, HaShem rewarded Pinchas with “bris shalom, a covenant of eternal peace.” Shalom – peace. The ultimate blessing. Without peace, we have nothing. With peace, we have everything. Without peace, we lay in bed fitfully, tossing and turning, unable to find a place for ourselves. The stresses of daily life prevent us from falling asleep. With shalom, with peace, we can fall into a blissful sleep, waking up refreshed, ready to begin a new day.
Modern medicine stresses how important peace of mind is for our physical well-being. Stress can bring on inflammation, high blood pressure, and even affect our cardiovascular health. The Torah tells us that Pinchas was blessed with bris shalom, a peaceful and tranquil life that contributed to his long years. Sforno teaches that by being granted a stress-free life, the covenant of peace protected Pinchas from the Angel of Death, thereby giving Pinchas many, many additional years than all of the people in his generation.
While Pinchas’ actions were strong and confrontational, being a zealot can be expressed in many ways. To live one’s life as a walking kiddush HaShem, sanctifying HaShem’s name is being a zealot. To be passionate about our adhering to Torah and mitzvos, to be mindful of how we speak to others – and about others – , from the words we choose to the voice we use. To stand up for what is right when we witness a wrong being done.
Over sixty years ago, my parents became the rov and rebbetzin of Congregation Ohr Torah, in North Woodmere. Today, North Woodmere is a thriving and vibrant Orthodox community, having witnessed an influx of hundreds of young families over the past decade. However, to be an Orthodox rabbi in North Woodmere at that time, took being a zealot.
While tall and strong in demeanor, my father always expressed himself in a soft and kind-hearted manner. When it came to halacha, Jewish law – be it in matters of kashrus, a proper mechitza in the shul, or in a myriad of other issues that inevitably arose – my father was unyielding and determined. But he succeeded because he always tempered his words, conveying the Torah perspective in a kind and relatable manner. In this way, he was able to build Yiddishkeit in what was then a spiritual wasteland, bringing so many closer to Torah. No wonder that he was known to his congregants as a “gentle giant”.
When my father saw that the neighborhood teenagers were heading out each morning to the local public schools without davening, he came up with a creative way to bring them to minyan. He would personally pick them up, drive them to shul, and daven with them. Abba always brought along a thermos of hot cocoa and cookies, to reward his “minyanaires”, as he would call the boys. That was his way of combining zealousness with kindness. And it went a long way. Today, many of those teenagers are grandparents, who raised their own children and grandchildren in the path of Torah and mitzvos.
Pinchas’ actions were both daring and courageous. But his intentions were pure and unadulterated. As a result, he brought an end to the plague, thereby paving a road to peace.
We are now beginning the period of time in the Jewish calendar referred to as “The Three Weeks”. A time of mourning for the Bais HaMikdash, a catastrophic loss brought upon by sinas chinam, baseless hatred. It is said that to bring Moshiach and complete the third and final Bais HaMikdash, we must fill our world with ahavas chinam, love without pre-conditions.
From this parsha we learn to always do the right thing. To live our lives with strong convictions, but without any personal motives. By doing so, we will b’ezras HaShem merit the reward of Bris Shalom, a covenant of peace. Peace for ourselves. Peace for our family. Peace for all of Am Yisroel.
Shabbat Shalom!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
