Parshas Pinchos 5765

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

After Balaam’s unsuccessful attempts at cursing the Jewish people, he advised the Midianites to destroy the nation in another way. The Jewish G-d was known to hate immorality. If the Jews could be seduced to behave immorally, they would fall into G-d’s disgrace and could be defeated.

The Midianites sent their daughters to entice the Jewish men to sin. One Midianite princess named Kozbi, even seduced a prince from the tribe of Shimon, Zimri ben Salu. He defied Moshe’s warnings and flagrantly sinned with her. This created a terrible desecration of G-d’s name, and G-d’s anger was aroused against the nation. A plague took many Jewish lives.

Pinchos, a grandson of Aharon the High Priest, decided to take the matter into his own hands. He recalled a law he had once heard from Moshe, that in specific instances, capital punishment could be meted out, even without a trial in court. Pinchos thus killed both Kozbi and Zimri. This action appeased G-d’s anger and the plague stopped. As a reward for his zealousness, G-d rewarded Pinchos with His eternal covenant of peace.

The Torah takes pains to point out that Pinchos’ actions were not merely the violent outburst of a wild fanatic. Pinchos was a descendent, in both body and spirit, of his grandfather Aharon, the great lover and pursuer of peace. His conferring with Moshe before acting further proved that it was not a rash decision. His motivation was purely one of love and concern for the Jewish people, to pacify G-d’s anger towards them.

Later in the portion, Moshe appointed his disciple Joshua as his successor. It is interesting to note that although Pinchos was praised and rewarded for his actions, he was not chosen to succeed Moshe. Although zealousness is important and has its place in Judaism, the Jewish leader must have a more compassionate nature in his relationship with the people. He must be able to deal with each individual according to his specific needs.

Moshe took another census of the people before he would take leave of them. He explained how the land would be divided among the people, a portion for each son. The daughters of Zelafchad complained to Moshe that their father had not left over any sons, and they, too, wanted a piece of land. The Talmud explains that the daughters of Zelafchad were motivated out of a love for the Promised Land, and not because they felt it was an injustice. This was also an example of zealousness for sincere purposes. G-d instructed Moshe that when a father would have no sons, the daughters would receive his inheritance.

“It was after the plague—and G-d spoke to Moshe…Take a census of the entire assembly of Israel…” (Num. 26:1-2)

After the plague that took many lives, G-d counted the survivors to show His eternal love for them. After the Holocaust, the Satmar Rebbe spent a period of time in Israel. When he left for America, his disciples asked him whom they could go to now for a blessing. The Rebbe responded, “Go to any of the synagogues of Jerusalem, and look for a Jew-—any Jew-—who puts tefillin on an arm tattooed with a number. You can ask that person for a blessing. He is a survivor, and G-d loves survivors.”

Did You Know...

The Ya’aleh V’yavo prayer is recited on Rosh Chodesh, both in the Amidah and in Bircas Hamazon (Grace after Meals). If the prayer was omitted during the Amidah of Shacharis or Mincha, the Amidah must be repeated. During Ma’ariv, however, it need not be repeated, even on the second night of Rosh Chodesh. The reason is that in times of the Temple, the Court would not sanctify the new moon at night, and Rosh Chodesh never really began until day. During Bircas Hamazon too, if one forgot Ya’aleh V’yavo it need not be repeated, since there is no obligation to eat a festive meal on Rosh Chodesh as there is on Shabbos and other holidays.