When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned about Parashat Pinchas (פִּינְחָס), the 41st weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings. According to Wikipedia, Pinchas (פִּינְחָס), Numbers 25:10 to 30:1, contains 7,853 Hebrew letters, 1,887 words, 168 verses and makes up 280 lines of the Torah scroll.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Pinchas:
“How can a person who is already elevated by Yichus achieve greatness on his own accord? In the case of Pinchas, his lineage as the grandson of Aaron was already established and he would not have to do a single action to achieve acknowledgment except what was destined for him. He was, however, no ordinary person.
Many people who inherit wealth or fame live their lives in comfort without ever contributing to society or reaching their full potential. Pinchas saw a terrible immoral and idolatrous act occurring in public which was designed to demoralize Klal Yisroel and embarrass Moshe. The Midianites, at the behest of the sorcerer Balaam, had debased their own princess in order to bring about our destruction. Pinchas realized this and in an act of great zealotry, brought an end to the terrible plague by performing a single act of bravery for G-d. It is possible for some people to criticize Pinchas because his action took the lives of 2 people, but because of his decisive action the terrible plague ceased and it served as a wake-up call to all involved.
Very often, decisive actions lead to criticism by those who do not have their cards on the table. While it is regrettable that Pinchas’ actions resulted in the loss of life, the ultimate conclusion is that he ended up saving many lives which would have been lost if the idolatry and immorality had not been righteously stopped.
Questions to Consider:
1. Why is it necessary to include the lineage of Pinchas, Zimri, and Kosbi as part of the story?
2. Why is the story of the daughters of Tzelophechad so revolutionary in the early Biblical narrative?
3. What was Pinchas later role after the Jewish Nation entered the Land of Israel?
4. Why was it necessary for G-d to grant Pinchas eternal Brit Shalom and Kehunnat Olam?
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his shicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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