Parshat Pinchas 5781
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha after Pinchas kills Zimri, he is awarded with the gift of Kehunah. When giving him this reward, Hashem says (Chapter 25, Pasuk 12), Hineni Nosen Lo es Brisi Shalom. This covenant is called a Bris of Shalom. It seems somewhat incongruous that after killing Zimri, the Bris received by Pinchas is referred to as one of peace. And even further, the Zohar Hakadosh teaches that a Kohen who kills another person is disqualified from the Kehunah. How did Pinchas nonetheless receive the Kehunah after killing Zimri the Nasi of the tribe of Shimon?
The pasuk says in Shir HaShirim (Chapter 8, Pasuk 7), Mayim Rabim Lo Yuchlu LeChabos es Ha’Ahavah; great waters are not capable of extinguishing the love. As Rashi explains, all attempts by the nations of the world to extinguish Hashem’s love for Bnei Yisrael will consistently fail. Even when Bnei Yisrael sin, Hashem’s love for them remains intact, as the pasuk in Mishlei states (Chapter 10, Pasuk 12), Al Kol Pesha’im Techaseh Ahavah; Hashem’s love overlooks sins. The love of Gd for Bnei Yisrael is absolute and unconditional.
The ability to access this great love Hashem has for Bnei Yisrael was given to Aharon HaKohen. This is expressed in Aharon’s trait of being (Avos, Chapter 1, Mishnah 12), Ohev Shalom, V’Rodeph Shalom. His efforts in bringing peace among the members of Clal Yisrael was a result of his great love for them. And as Chazal teach in Ta’anis 9A, the Ananei Ha’Kavod, the clouds of glory which accompanied Bnei Yisrael in the desert were in the merit of Aharon. These clouds provided Bnei Yisrael with protection, so that when Aharon died, Rabbi Avahu in the Gemara in Rosh Hashanah 3A tells us to read the words (Chapter 20, Pasuk 29) Vayiru Kol Ha’Eidah Ki Gava Aharon, as Vayira’u; they feared. Bnei Yisrael were afraid that when Aharon died they would lose their protection. But Hashem’s love for Bnei Yisrael is so great that Aharon’s death would not extinguish His love for them.
The Kehunah was given to Aharon as a gift, as the pasuk says (Chapter 18, Pasuk 17), Avodas Matanah Etain es Kehunaschem. The Avodah of the Kehunah was a gift to Aharon. And this gift is the ability to spread Shalom and protection to Am Yisrael. And another gift which was given to all of Am Yisrael was Shabbos. As the Gemara in Shabbos 10B teaches, Matanah Tovah Yesh Li B’Beis Genazai V’Shabbos Shmah; I have a good present in my treasure house and its name is Shabbos. And the present of Shabbos also presents Shalom among Bnei Yisrael, as we say in the davening of Leil Shabbos, U’Fros Aleinu Succas Shelomecha. The Succas Shalom of Shabbos provides us with protection, just as the Ananei Ha’Kavod provided Bnei Yisrael with protection in the desert. And Shabbos is the time when Hashem’s love for Bnei Yisrael is expressed, as we say in Kiddush, V’Shabbos Kadsho B’Ahavah U’Veratzon Hinchilanu. Shabbos was given to us with love and provided us with Shalom.
The Medrash Rabbah (21,1) on our parsha teaches that Pinchas received the Kehunah on his own merit, Be’Din Hu Sheyitol Secharo, according to Midas Ha’Din. And the reward of Shalom which was given to Pinchas was great, for the whole world is based on Shalom. And the Medrash continues with various illustrations of how Shalom is essential to the maintenance of the world, culminating with the words of Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta at the end of Uktzin, Eiyn Kli Machazik Bracha Ela Shalom.
So how did Pinchas merit this as a result of taking the life of Zimri ben Salu?
Pinchas was motivated to take the life of Zimri by his love for Hashem. It wasn’t a random act of violence; Pinchas remembered the Halacha of Kana’im Pog’im Bo. Through his judgment that Zimri needs to be killed according to Halacha, he merited by Din to receive the Kehunah. It wasn’t a present to him, and even though ordinarily a Kohen who kills may not serve as a Kohen, Pinchas acquired the rights to the Kohen through his love, Bekano es Kinasi, and by right. And through his love for Hashem he merited to Bris Kehunas Olam. He was the conduit through which Hashem’s love for Bnei Yisrael would be expressed, and through which the Shalom essential in the world would be maintained.
Good Shabbos
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