Overview of the Weekly Reading: Pinchas
To be read on 21
Tamuz 5764 (July 10th
)
TTorah:
Numbers 25:10-30:1
Haftorah: Jeremiah
1:1-2:3 (1st of 3 "Haftorahs of Punishment")
Pinchas is the 8th Reading out of 10
in Numbers and 41sth overall, and 2nd
out of 54 in overall length.
Pirkei
Avot:
Chapter One
Pinchas
receives priesthood as reward for his zealous act (see end of Balak)
of killing a tribal prince who acted immorally. After that is the
census of all the tribes followed by instructions for dividing the
Land of Israel according to families. The five daughters of Tzelofchad
came to Moshe saying that their father died leaving no male heir
to inherit his portion of land. G-d commands that these women be
given their father’s portion and also commands what should happen
in all future cases where a direct heir is not available. Before
his death, G-d tells Moshe to view the Land from Mt. Avarim, as
he will not enter it; instead, Yehoshua, his main pupil and attendant,
is publicly commissioned as future leader of the Jews. The parsha
concludes listing details concerning daily, Shabbat, new month,
and holiday offerings.
FROM THE MASTERS
OF KABBALA (K:41-64/Pinchas)
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:41-64/Pinchas)
Abraham
saw in the stars that he would have no children, but that changed
after G-d promised him that a son would be born to him and Sarah.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the holy
Ari, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed
(A:41-64/Pinchas)
The
nut symbolizes in Kabbala the phenomenon of evil surrounding holiness,
just as the shells of the nut surround the inner meat. Here, too,
anger is a shell that must be discarded, and in so doing, one reveals
the inner goodness of the soul.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the Shelah,
Shney Luchot HaBrit by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz
(S:41-64/Pinchas)
G-d
answered these angels that He was well aware that even if the righteous
people had admonished their compatriots, it would have been to no
avail.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES (V41-64/Pinchas)
"Pinchas ...was the one who zealously took up My cause."
(literally "was jealous with My jealousy") (25:11)
The motivation behind Pinchas' deed was completely pure and for
the sake of heaven, without any personal desire for vengeance. This
is similar to G-d's "jealousy," for He has mercy on all
His creations and chastises those whom He loves. Pinchas was therefore
"jealous with My jealousy," i.e., without personal motivation
or consideration.
(Rabbi Yehoshua of Kutna)
"The children of Korach did not die." (26:11)
They did not die, and in every generation Korach's "inheritors"
-- those who rebel against the Moses of that generation -- are alive
and well, continuing in his path.
(Sefer HaSichot)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
(W:41-64/Pinchas)
The
time known as the Three Weeks began Tuesday (July 6) with the fast
day of the 17th of Tamuz, and will end on (July 27) with the fast
of the 9th of Av. It is a period of mourning in connection with the
destruction of the two Holy Temples. The daily offerings, the main
way the Jewish people would serve and connect to G-d for over 1500
years were halted, not to be resumed again until the third Temple
is rebuilt (may it be immediately).
All of Jewish traditional life is affected by this. It is a commandment
to constantly remember our loss and to yearn for Mashiach who
will rebuild the Temple. The breaking of a glass during the wedding
ceremony is to remind us that even at our greatest moment of joy we
are still in exile.
The Opter Rebbe was known for his insightful advice. Once,
a person came to him with a long and sorrowful list of painful events
and problems. After listening to him patiently and for a long time,
the Rebbe gave him many blessings and also a piece of very powerful
advice that would help him in the future.
As the man was leaving, the Rebbe called him back again and announced
with great emotion the following: 'You must know after all that has
transpired, a greater tragedy than what has befallen you has occurred
today to the Jewish people! The great tragedy is that the daily offering
was not brought in the Temple at its time and in the appropriate manner,
since the Temple is still destroyed!'
We have to remember, even in the midst of all of our travail, that
we will never be whole until the Temple is rebuilt!
The main reason given for the destruction of the second Temple is
the lack of brotherly love between the Jewish people. Therefore, it
is customary during this time of year to be extra sensitive to our
friends and neighbors, looking for ways to help and be kind.
The Torah reading Pinchas always comes at the beginning of the Three
Weeks. Rabbi Yosef Dov Soleveichik makes a connection between Pinchas
and the Three Weeks.
In the middle of the Torah portion is the story of the daughters
of Zelofchod. Having no brothers as heirs, these women wanted to inherit
their father's portion of the land of Israel. Moshe asked G-d, and
G-d answered that these women should inherit Zelofchod's portion of
Land.
Rabbi Soleveichik writes that there are four times in the Torah that
Moshe did not know the answer to questions posed to him: the inheritance
of the daughters of Zelofchod (Bamidbar 27/5); Pesach Sheni, when
a group of travelers were impure and therefore unable to bring the
Pascal offering and Moshe turned to G-d for an answer (Bamidbar 9/6-7);
the person who cursed G-d (Vayikra 24/10-12); and the person who gathered
fire wood on Shabbat (Bamidbar 15/32-34).
In the first two instances, Moshe immediately asked G-d what to do.
In the second two, Moshe waited until G-d instructed him how to proceed.
Why?
The answer Rabbi Soleveichik gives is that the daughters of Zelofchod
came because they loved the Land of Israel and wanted their share.
In the case of Pesach Sheni, they people acted out of a desire to
serve G-d, not wanting to miss out on an important commandment. Moshe
said to himself, 'These people want to be involved in holiness! I
have to expedite their cases and try to fulfill their requests!'
In contrast, in the latter two cases, where punishment for an ill
deed was involved, Moshe reasoned, 'Why should I push for a resolution
so fast. Let us wait and see what G-d decides.' When we have a situation
that will reward someone, it is a mitzvah to expedite as much
as we can. But this is only when we are helping someone benefit. If
the outcome is negative, patience is the order of the day.
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul
Leiter
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
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