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 for Shabbat, July 27, 2024 aka 21 Tammuz 5784:
“This past week, we commemorated the fast day 17th of Tammuz ,which recalls the tragic events of 586BCE and the eventual destruction of the Beyt Hamikdash and Jerusalem. In Torah times, Pinchas. the grandson of Aaron the Kohain Gadol, acted decisively and brought about the end of a terrible plague which occurred as the result idolatrous and immoral acts committed by Jewish men who violated the 10 Commandments and were led into Baal worship by the women of Moab. He was granted by G-d a Brit Shalom- a Covenant of Peace, for his courageous action and eventually became the Kohain Gadol.
In our day, many such people, patterned after Pinchas, brave men and women of the IDF, have risen up to bring justice for the families of those slain and still held hostage since October 7th. It seems that in every generation, we are G-d’s designated warriors who must identify and fight against evil which rears its ugly head throughout the world. Make no mistake- the evils leaders of Gaza, Iran, North Korea, Yemen, Venezuela, Russia, and China and elsewhere will one day face ultimate justice. It is through the actions of just people who are not afraid to identify, call out, and confront evil that the goals of bringing about a just world worthy of the coming of Mashiach will eventually be realized. Each of us, like Pinchas, must do our part, to work together in supporting those who have the faith and courage to overcome evil. It is through the actions of noble, courageous people throughout that peace will be achieved through justice and G-d’s vision for the world will be achieved.
Questions for Consideration:
- Why was it necessary for G-d to grant a covenant of peace to Pinchas and his descendants?
- What are the reasons for taking a census after the plague of Baal Peor?
- Why does Moses modify Joshua’s name?
- Why is the narrative of the daughters of Tzelofechad so revolutionary for its time?”
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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