Weekly Reading Insights

Overview of the Weekly Reading

To be read on Shabbat Pinchas, 21 Tammuz 5769/July 3rd, 2010

Torah: Numbers 25:10-30:1
Haftorah: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 (1st of 3 "Haftorahs of Punishment")
Pirkei Avot: Chapter 1

Pinchas is the 8th Reading out of 10 in Numbers and it contains 7853 letters, in 1887 words, in 168 verses

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.

This Tuesday, June 29th, begins the Three Weeks: the semi-mourning period that starts with the fast of the 17th of Tammuz.

Parashat Pinchas is always read just before or at the beginning of the summer mourning period. The Talmud says that Pinchas, the priest, and Elijah, the prophet and announcer of Mashiach, are the same person. It is as though G-d is giving us the cure before the malady by telling us not to worry: if parashat Pinchas is being read, then Elijah is soon to arrive and announce Mashiach's arrival! What can we do to help this happen? First, we can learn from Pinchas's actions. He did not wait for Moses or any other great person of his generation to correct a wrong that angered G-d. Without even considering the risk to himself, Pinchas hurled himself into action. Each of us must be a zealot for G-d's honor like Pinchas. When no one else may be capable or willing to take charge (like when someone is drowning), each of us must see ourselves as being personally responsible and take action!

Later in the Torah reading, we see another example of taking initiative. Five sisters came with a claim to the leaders of their generation, a generation in which each person was on the level of a prophet. Their father died, leaving no male heir, and the portion of the Land that should be given to their branch of the family would consequently be given to another branch. These women said, "We care so much, why should we lose?" According to G-d's response, Moses changes the system accordingly. By including this whole exchange as part of the Divine Scripture, the Torah makes these women into heroes.

But there is another interesting point. The verse says that the sisters made their request standing before Moses, Elazar the priest, the tribal princes, and the whole congregation at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. (Num. 27:2) Rashi comments, "First before Moses and afterwards in front of Elazar? Is it possible that if Moses did not know, Elazar would?" Rabbi Yeshaya says, "No! We must switch the two expressions around - that they came to Moses last, after bringing their request to the all the other leaders listed in the verse"; Aba Chanan, in the name of Rabbi Elazar, has an alternate explanation: "These leaders were, in fact, all together in the study hall and the women stood in front of them at the same time with their request."

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains how the story of the daughters of Tzelofchad is similar to the institution of Pesach Sheni (Second Passover - see Num. 9:1-14), which came about when Jews did not want to miss the opportunity to sacrifice the Pascal Lamb. In both cases the Jews were saying, "this is so important to us, why should we lose out?" In both situations G-d on high responded to a claim made from below! (This is in contrast to Moses teaching G-d's commands - the emphasis on receiving rather than initiating.)

Both events emphasize how much we can accomplish through our Torah study and mitzvah observance in this world, when we truly care. This also connects to the two different explanations of Rashi. "Switch the expressions" can also be read: "Switch the normal order of reality". Instead of G-d being the initiator, these fundamental changes came from below, from people who understanding and sincerity led to their claim. The same can be said for the second explanation, that everyone was sitting in the study hall, again emphasizing the power of Torah study and self-initiative from below.

These ideas are particularly pertinent today. We did not create this world and its injustices. The Torah tells us not to sit passively while negative things go on around us. We can transform our environments. Most importantly, when great leaders have promised us that Mashiach's arrival is imminent, it is not enough for us to sit and wait for the right moment. It is in our power to initiate the coming redemption by insisting, through our thought, speech, and action that the current situation is not correct - we want to merit Mashiach now!

FROM THE CHASSIDIC REBBES (V:4170/Pinchas)

"A regular ascent offering." [28:3]

The ascent offering is the archetypal sacrifice. It was offered "totally to G-d": the owners of the animal as well as the priests were forbidden to eat from it; it was completely consumed on the altar. This teaches us that if a person wishes to achieve a true closeness to G-d, he must be prepared to serve him selflessly, to be "completely consumed," with no thought of reward.

Lichutei Sichot [translated from Sichat HaShavuah #340]

For more than a decade of "From the Chasidic Rebbes" on this Weekly Reading, see our archives

MOSHIACH THIS WEEK (M:4170/Pinchas)

During the "Three Weeks" between 17 Tammuz and 9 Av it is customary to study topics relating to the Holy Temple. "This study should be carried out in anxious anticipation of the Holy Temple being rebuilt. We should study about the Holy Temple with the awareness that in the very near future, we will see what we are studying about in actual reality.
(Lubavitcher Rebbe) (from Lchaim 1078)

For the previous five years of "Moshiach This Week" on this Weekly Reading, see our archives

A MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE

Specifically, for precious articles on the Weekly Parsha in the columns:
Holy Zohar, Holy Ari, Mystic Classics, Chasidic Masters, Contemporary Kabbalists, and more,click to

At the time of his momentous act of zealotry, Pinchas saw his own name (which has a numerical value of 208) rise heavenwards, and realized that his name had the same numerical value as that of Isaac the patriarch, who personified the attribute of Justice on earth. He also saw the letter mem fly in the air. This letter is an allusion to death - in Hebrew, "mavet" and this inspired him to be a barrier of "death". The Zohar, commenting on the lance which Pinchas used to slay Zimri, describes Pinchas as "garbing" himself with this lance in order to mete out justice here on earth so that mercy could be invoked in the parallel regions of Heaven.

For another sample of recommended Kabbalah articles on a variety of subjects,
click to the our weekly Kabbalah magazine

"Pinchas" is the weekly reading where The Five Sisters express their love for the land and the importance for each Jew of establishing one's inheritance in it. The first three and last articles embellish this theme. Tuesday, a fast day from sunrise to nightfall, starts the Three Weeks period of semi-mourning. The fourth article offers an amazing Kabbalistic insight into the spiritual root of this occasion.

Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron, were burned when making the incense offering in a zealous yet inappropriate way. Their souls were lost or not at peace, until the act of Pinchas.

Weekly Reading Insights: Pinchas 5770

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