Parshat Pinchas
This week’s parsha is the continuation of parshat Balak, in which the nation fell to the temptations of the Moabite woman. Klal Yisrael was stricken with a plague as a punishment for their sin. However, thanks to Pinchas, who stood up among the nation and killed Zimri, the plague ended and the people were forgiven.
Rashi explains that even after the plague stopped, Pinchas was ridiculed for his actions. In order to vindicate Pinchas in front of nation, HaShem rewards him with priesthood for his iron will and zeal in the face opposition. HaShem says, “Behold I given him my covenant of peace, and it should be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal Priesthood...”
The commentators question why HaShem gives Pinchas a covenant of peace. Weren’t his actions against Zimri violent in nature? Even though the situation may have called for violence, why is this covenant fitting for Pinchas? It would seem that his actions are the antithesis of peace.
Perhaps we can understand this according to the following explanation: Pirkei Avot (1:12) adjures us to be of the students of Aharon who “love peace and pursue - ‘rodef’ - peace”. The Mishna uses the term “rodef” to say pursuit; this is an interesting choice, for we find this word in more negative connotations. For example one who is “rodef” after his friend is considered wicked and liable to death. What is the Mishna teaching us with the word ‘rodef’?
We learn from here that there are two ways to bring peace: through loving and becoming an example of peace, thus bringing others closer, and through actively “pursuing it”. Sometimes this pursuit must take the form of violence in order to root out impediments to peace, to actually become a “rodef” to achieve that peace. One who does this may be highly unpopular among the general public, yet this is exactly what is needed. The embodiment of this principle is Pinchas, who pursued peace by eradicating the evil among the nation when he knew that it was Hashem’s will at the time. When HaShem gives this covenant of peace, He is stating that Pinchas is the quintessence of the students of Aharon, of one who loves and seeks peace.
Peace does not mean giving up on our morals and ideals. This will not achieve harmony; it will only lead to more strife. We learn from Pinchas the true meaning of peace – it is the absence of evil in this world and the fulfillment of Hashem’s will. Sometimes this requires that we take seemingly “violent” actions, but with the understanding that this will eliminate evil and lead to the most peaceful existence. This has never been as true as it is now in our days, as our nation faces many foes who wish to destroy us, and there are those who think that the solution is to concede…we know that peace will only come when we fight for our morals and for what we know to be Hashem’s will.
May our true understanding of peace allow us to merit to see the ultimate fulfillment of Hashem’s will in this world and the coming of Moshiach very soon.
Shabbat Shalom
