Parashat Pinchas Numbers 25:10−30:1
Dear Friends,
In this week’s Parasha, Pinchas, there is an implicit warning from the ancient rabbis about fanaticism. It is not explicit, but it is there nevertheless. Typically, we take the division of the Torah into portions for each week for granted. In this case however, it is worth looking closely at where the division was made between last week’s portion (Balak) and this week’s portion.
At the end of Bakak, a plague has struck the children of Israel, as some of the local women have led men among the Israelites into idolatry. In particular, one has tempted a man to have relations with her in the Tent of Meeting, in what seems to be an Idolatrous ritual. Pinchas sees this taking place and runs the couple through with his spear, and that is where the rabbis ended the portion. It is only in this week’s portion that we find out what will happen to Pinchas.
He is to receive an everlasting priesthood in the service of God, the only such explicit bestowal in the Torah. This is, in today’s vernacular, a very big deal. So why did the rabbi’s separate the reward from the deed that warranted such unusual recognition? Precisely to discourage such precipitous actions in the future, by those who might expect a similar reward.
By their actions in this case, the rabbis are attempting to discourage fanaticism in the religion. The kind of over-the-top actions that result in bumper stickers that proclaim, “Dear God, please protect me from your followers.”
Pinchas, in the actions that he took, while they may have been justified, made himself judge, jury and executioner. A course of action that is absolutely in violation of Jewish Law. Two people that were acting improperly lost their lives without any opportunity to repent, to show remorse, plead ignorance, or attempt to defend what they had done.
The rabbis had no way to add a footnote directly to the Torah, but since they were the ones that regulated Torah reading, and decided how it was to be done, they used the tools that they had to leave a message behind for those who would take the time and make the effort to understand.
Shabbat is a time that was intended for just such thoughtful contemplation, allowing us to acquire a depth of understanding that is typically not possible in the chaos of our day to day lives. On this Shabbat, may we take at least a few moments to think about our Tradition, the world around us, and how the lessons we uncover can enhance our lives.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marv
rabbischwab@bethelsp.org