Dear Temple Sinai Members and Friends,
There are some parts of the Hebrew bible, Tanach, that are found to be disturbing for modern Jews. One of those is this week’s narrative of Pinchas, for whom the Torah portion is named. Here is his story:
Pinchas was among the Israelites who left Egypt and survived the long desert journey to the Land of Israel. However, it was only at the end of this 40-year period, when the Jews were just months away from their destination, that he gained his fame. The Jews were camped at Shittim, an area in the plains of Moab, at the banks of the Jordan River. At the counsel of the evil prophet Balaam, the daughters of Moab and Midian enticed the Jews to sin with them, subsequently leading them to worship their god, known as Peor. The Jews’ behavior aroused divine wrath, and they were beset by a plague that would leave 24,000 Jews (from the tribe of Simeon) dead. At the instruction of G‑d, Moses summoned the nations’ leaders and told them to judge the offenders and punish them with death, thus causing G‑d’s anger to subside. The nation congregated at the entrance to the Tabernacle, intending to follow Moses’ command.
However, before they were able to do so, Zimri son of Salu, one of the leaders of the tribe of Simeon, approached the crowd together with Cozbi, daughter of Zur, one of the five Midianite kings. As everyone looked on, he entered a tent and blatantly engaged in intercourse with her. Seeing this outright rebellious behavior, Pinchas grabbed a spear, entered the tent, and pierced them both together, as they were in the middle of the act. This deed brought about an immediate end to the plague. For what was considered his zealous deed, Pinchas was given the Brit Shalom, the Covenant of Peace (Numbers 25:13) and elevated into the priesthood.
Most modern Jews, including myself, find Pinchas’ action of killing a couple simply because of their act, quite unacceptable. Even God’s placing of a plague upon the Hebrews because they worshipped another god seems harsh.
I have always found this narrative from the Torah one that is difficult to read in a Reform congregation in which there are many intermarried couples and blended families. I certainly never gave this as the reading to a Bar or Bat Mitzvah student.
So, what are we to do with this biblical event? We could simply skip over it or interpret it for modern Jews. In taking up the latter challenge, I ask: What does it mean to be zealous for God and the Jewish People, as was Pinchas? I would like to believe that it means that a person is first of all proud of being Jewish and is zealous, that is, devoted to living a Jewish life, standing up for Jewish values, and dedicating one’s life to Torah and the living, to the best of one’s abilities, a Jewish existence.
The word “zealous” is defined as: “marked by fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal.” To me this means that a Jew needs to be devoted to Torah, God, and the People wholeheartedly, as it says in the Veahhavtah: with all one’s mind, heart, and strength.” When each of us can do this, then we are living up to that quality of “zealousness” and worthy of the title from God, “Covenant of Peace.”
Shabbat shalom,
Your Rabbi Steve