THE Parshas Pinchus
Torah Teaser
Q
1. The Bnos Tzelafchad came to Moshe and said that their father died, but was not with Korach, and he had no sons. What is the connection between not being part of Korach’s group that argued with Moshe and not having any sons? Ans… The Pninim U’Parpara’os brings from the Chanukas HaTorah that the Gemara (Mo’ed Katan 18) says on the Pasuk (Tehilim 106:16) “Vayikanu L’Moshe BaMachaneh,” that each member of Korach’s group accused his wife of being with Moshe and they all became Sotahs. The Gemara also says that if a Sotah is innocent of the charges, when she drinks the water she will be blessed with children if she is childless, and if she has only daughters, she will give birth to sons. The Bnos Tzelafchad told Moshe that, clearly their father was not part of Korach’s group. How did they prove it? Their mother never had any sons. Had their father been in Korach’s group, she would have given birth to a baby boy after being wrongly accused by her husband.
2. The Chiddushei HaRim says that the brave act of Pinchos was michaper on the aveira of Nadav and Avihu and brought the Chanukas HaMishkan to completion. How? Ans… The aveira of Nadav and Avihu was that they did something that they were not commanded to do. Pinchos, on the other hand, did something that must be done, but no one can pasken that you must do it (Halacha V’Ein Morin Kein). Nadav and Avihu took action without consulting Moshe Rabbeinu. Pinchos asked Moshe, although he did not have an answer. Nadav and Avihu were the first korbanos of the Mishkan, as they gave their lives Al Kiddush HaShem. Pinchos was moser nefesh and risked his life to be Mikadesh Shem Shamayim. “This is why,” says the Chiddushei HaRim, “Parshas Pinchos has in it the parsha of Korbanos Tzibbur.”
3. Hashem tells Moshe to pass on the mantle of leadership to Yehoshua, “VNasata Mei Hodcha Alav – Give him from your radiance,” (Pinchos 27:20). The Gemara in Bava Basra (75) says “MeiHodcha” from your Hod but not all of it. From here the Zekeinim said that Moshe radiated like the sun, and Yehoshua only received part of Moshe’s radiance, and radiated like the moon; woe to the embarrassment! What did the Zekeinim mean when they said, “Woe to the embarrassment” Which embarrassment? Ans …The Peninim al HaParshas says that the Chida explains that Yehoshua merited to succeed Moshe, because he cleaned up the Bais Medrash and was Mishamesh Moshe, doing all the menial tasks. The Zekeinim, on the other hand, learned Torah from Moshe, but felt above menial chores. When they saw how wrong they were, as Yehoshua was elevated to be the Manhig, they said, “Woe to the embarrassment we felt at cleaning up.” That degradation was accepted by Yehoshua, and now he leads us. The Kotzker Rebbe has a different approach to this Gemara. He says that this Gemara is referring to those who rate their leaders. After hearing the Zekeinim say that Moshe was like the sun and Yehoshua like the moon, the Gemara itself comments, “Woe to the embarrassment of a generation who rates it leaders.”
4. Pinchos got up and decided on his own to defend the honor of Hashem and kill Zimri. He acted in accordance with the halacha of “Kana’im Pog’im Bo”. Had he asked Bais Din for permission, he would not have been told to kill him. A Kano’i cannot get permission from Bais Din. He must act on his own. This halacha is quite unique and contrary to the general Torah Hashkafa. Why is this so? Ans…Rav Moshe Feinstein says in Darash Moshe that while it is important to do mitzvos with pure intentions, nevertheless, a mitzva done with ulterior motives and for the sake of personal benefit is still worth doing. However, when it comes to punishing others, this can only be done if carried out with 100% pure intentions and totally L’Shem Shamayim. Judging a person’s intentions is not within the abilities of another human. Only Hashem can know a person’s thoughts. Therefore, in the case of Kana’im Pogim Bo, Bais Din can never render an opinion if a particular person can carry out “Nikmas Hashem”. This is between the person and Hashem alone. This was the gripe of the Shevatim against Pinchos. They doubted his sincerity until Hashem testified on Pinchos’s behalf, and awarded him the Kehuna and a Bris of Sholom.
5. Pinchos was rewarded, and became a Kohen, after he courageously defended Hashem’s honor by killing Zimri. Although his father was Elazar, and his grandfather Aharon HaKohen, he himself was not a Kohen since Hashem only bestowed the Kehuna on Aharon, his children, and the grandchildren born thereafter; whereas Pinchos had already been born. The Maharal MiPrague asks, “Why did Hashem do this strange thing and rob him of the stature that he rightfully deserved from the beginning?” Ans…Rav Gedalia Schorr answers that the reason why Pinchos earned the Kehuna was that this killing was considered an act of chessed. Any act done L’Shem Mitzva will have the opposite of the detrimental effect that would logically follow (e.g., getting rich from giving tzedaka). Although murder is the ultimate cruel act, when done in a manner that would be a mitzva, it is the ultimate chessed. However, the halacha remains that a Kohen who murders may not perform Birchas Kohanim. By not giving Pinchos the status of a Kohen, he earned it with the killing of Zimri. Had Pinchos already been a Kohen, that very same act would have made him forfeit his right to serve as a Kohen.

This week is B’Zchus: The cry babies. The special people among Klal Yisroel who have not become so accustomed to their present-day lifestyle that they begin to think and feel that it’s possible to have a good life without the Beis Hamikdash. The ones who still cry over the churban. Distributed by the Chevra Marbitz Achdus D’NMB

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