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PARSHAT PINCHOS
Tuesday July 23, the fast day of Shiva Asar B'Tammuz is observed. It is a day of fasting that begins the three week period of semi-mourning ending with the fast of Tishah B'Av starting Monday evening, August 12 and all day Tuesday. May Hashem comfort us as we remember the beginning of the bitter loss of our Holy Temple in Jerusalem and may He transform these sad days into joyous ones.
At the conclusion of last week's Torah Reading, we learned of the powerful action taken by Pinchos when he witnessed blatant acts of idolatry among the people. He is introduced to us as Pinchos the son of Elazar, and grandson of Aaron the Kohain. This week, in the portion named after him, Pinchos is once again referred to by his father's and grandfather's namesake. Why is his lineage mentioned twice and do we really need to know that Aaron was his grandfather?
You may recall that when we met Korach, the instigator of the rebellion, he was introduced to us as the son of Yitzhar, grandson of Kehot and great grandson of Levi. Why, asks Rashi, didn't the Torah mention that Korach's ancestry included Jacob, father of Levi? Rashi answers that Jacob did not want his name associated with the fighting caused by Korach.
The thing about great ancestry is that when you lead a good life, your ancestor's merits are added to yours. And when you don't, you lose that special status.
Aaron was the renowned peacemaker of his generation. He brought fighting couples together even when it meant degrading himself; he was the true man of peace. How interesting that Aaron had no problem being associated with Pinchos, the zealot who executed the idolaters.
Pirkei Avot 1:12 quotes Hillel teaching that we should be as the students of Aaron - "Ohev Shalom, V'rodef Shalom"- love peace and pursue peace. Do you know anyone who doesn't love peace? Do the following: ask the people you meet; poll all the countries at the UN; ask any dictator or war criminal. You will find that everyone loves peace. However, the legacy of Aaron, the Kohen Gadol is not merely to love peace, he actively pursued it. It is required of the Jewish people to pursue peace as well.
Pirkei Avot 1:18 explains that the world continues to exist each day because of three principles: JUSTICE, TRUTH and PEACE. When Pinchos saw the outrageous desecration of G-d's name in public, he executed judgment based on truth, and Hashem's reward to this grandson of the ultimate peacemaker who loved and pursued peace, was the gift of peace, Bamidbar 25:12.
Kol Tov! Our best to you...it's all good. Shabbat Shalom, CM
CHADISH FORUM - PLEASE TELL US
This week we met Pinchos, grandson of Aaron the first Kohain. Does having illustrious ancestors affect one's
destiny?
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