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We learn from Midrashim on Parsha Pinchas that there was much dispute in The Camp as to Pinchas’ action in slaying Zimri and Kozbi. There were those who wanted Pinchas killed for killing another Jew; quoted by Rabbi Artscroll(Stone Chumash page 876, Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 25, posuk 11);
“This grandson of someone who fattened calves to be sacrificed to idols” had the gall to kill a prince in Israel! [Pinchas’ father was married to a daughter of Yitro, a former Midianite Priest, who was called Putiel…]
To repeat a quote from the Lubavitcher Rebbe as noted in last week’s Parsha HaShevua (Studies in the Weekly Parsha, by Yehuda Nachshoni, Parsha Balak, page 1113);
“He impailed the woman through the belly”; “He aimed his spear between their male and female members, proving that he did not kill them in vain.” Wh would we think that he had killed them in vain? Rather, the Torah here alludes to the law that a zealot has free reign only while the act is in progress.
Thus Hashem conveyed the Kahuna, and eternal life upon upon Pinchas in recognition of the justness and Kiddush Hashem of his action.
Yehuda Nachshoni’s Studies in the Weekly Parsha (pages 1119, 1133-1134) brings an interesting discussion, seemingly a chiddush regarding the future leadership of B’nai Yisrael. Nachshoni cites The Kotzker Rebbe who notes;
Although Pinchas’ act was celebrated, and his virtues praised, he was still invalidated from being a leader of the Jewish people, prompting the appointment of Yehoshua in Bamidbar 27:15ff. Until then, Moshe thought Pinchas would replace him as leader. Yet, when he saw Pinchas’ zealotry he said that while Pinchas was truly holier than othera, he lacks leadership traits. A leader must conduct himself with moderation and flexibility.
Nachshoni then cites the very next posuk in Bamidbar (Bamidbar 27:16) as well as it’s Rashi;
“Hashem, G’d of the souls of all flesh, appoint a man to be over the congregation,” to which Rashi comments; “Let Hashem appoint one who matches every soul.”
Nacshoni goes further in citing R’ Reuven Katz Rabbi of Petach Tikva, in his Duda’ei Reuven;
Zealotry is forbidden in a leader. It is not because the trait is undesirable in and of itself, but because one deals strictly with others, Hashem deals strictly with him. Such a person cannot elicit Divine compassion and kindness.
But perhaps there is a different scenario. Until the event of Pinchas’ slaying of Zimri and Kozbi, Pinchas, not then holding the status of Kohen, is seen by Moshe Rebbeinu as being his heir-apparent.
But after the event, Pinchas is destined to be elevated by Hashem to the Kahuna, a higher calling.
Nachshoni cites The Munkatcher Rebbe (Os Chaim Veshalom) who “reacted strongly against the idea that Pinchas was invalidated for leadership because of his zealotry…”;
…. He goes on, a leader must be as bold as a leopard in defending Hashem’s glory. He must be neither compromising nor acquiescent in matters of outlook. To his mind, Pinchas was rejected as a leader for three other reasons;
- (a) Pinchas was a Kohen, and the crown of monarchy must not be mingled with the crown of priesthood.
- (b) Pinchas was of the seed of Leah (through Levi), and Chazal state that Eisev will fall at the hands of Rachel’s descendents.
- (c) His father [Elazar Kohen Godol] was still alive serving in the priesthood, and the son could not be made his father’s leader.
Point (b) seems puzzling at first; Pinchas, the seed of Leah (a Levi). But isn’t Moshiach Ben David of the seed of Leah (Shavet Yehuda)?
But R’Chaim Zev Malinowitz makes this comparison regarding “the hands of Rachel’s descendents” — Moshiach ben Yosef;
The communist USSR fell during the Presidency of Geoge Bush (the father of President George W. Bush). However, the credit for the collapse of the Soviet Union goes to President Ronald Reagon under whom the United States made great strides economically, militarily as well as diplomatically thus compelling the collapse which happened soon after the transition of the American presidency from Reagon to Bush.
May we, the B’nai Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently settled and be made totally whole, that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard and the 3 captive Chayalim and the other MIAs be liberated and returned to us and that we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nai Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Yom Hashem V’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bim hay v’yameinu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
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