Close To Torah

Pinchas stood up and did what everyone else was afraid to do. He saw that someone was committing a horrific sin and he stopped it. The reward that he got was that he and his descendants were granted Kehuna status and he was given the “covenant of Shalom (Bamidbar 25: 12).” What is this all about?

Pinchas’ act at first glance seems brazen and violent. Although it was the Torah law, it seems harsh as it involved taking the life of two people. When someone does something brazen it has a lasting effect on his or her personal character construct.  Thus, after this justified act, Hashem wished to instill in Pinchas and his family a deep connection and appreciation of Shalom, peace. This is what the blessing of Shalom is all about.

Our actions define who we are. If we see something violent or immoral, as much as we disapprove and condemn it, the mere experience can negatively influence us and desensitize us to our true inner souls. Chazal (Sotah 2a) tell us that one who saw the Sotah explode  needed to do take upon him or herself to stay away from wine. What does this mean? The Sotah committed an immoral act of adultery and this came about through frivolity and the drinking of wine. Thus, the bystanders were instructed that the best thing to do was to become a Nazir and accept on oneself to stay away from wine and sin for at least thirty days. How is this to be understood, he just watched a woman become demeaned and explode in front of his very eyes, what more is necessary to stop one from sinning? The answer is that when one sees sin, one becomes accustomed to it and it is not enough to simply learn to turn away from it, one must do an action that rebuilds his intolerance and objection of the horrible act. By making oneself a Nazir, he shows his abhorrence and intolerance of sin.

I am not in the position to make spiritual suggestions, but I will share with you what is on my mind after this week’s tragic and heartbreaking news about the murder of an innocent and pure 8 year old boy named Leiby Kletzky zt”l hy”d. The outpouring and love expressed in the community as all walks of life joined to search for and ultimately to give comfort to the family is a sight that has brought chills and tears to people around the world. But what am I doing about it? What can I do to show my disapproval and to honor Leiby’s soul? I feel that I need to find one thing that I can accept on myself in order to show that I value human life and appreciate that one person is equivalent to the entire world (Sanhedrin 37a). There is so much to think about as we scramble to find answers to so many alarming and uncomfortable questions. Let’s not forget to come up with one resolution that will make us into better and more sensitive people.  

 Print

Categories: Parshas Pinchas Tags: Leiby Kletzky