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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
I wrote what follows a few years ago, yet it applies even more today. I ask you to read it, internalize it, and figure out how you might use this information to address the myriad issues facing us, our people, and our homeland today. As always, I look forward to you reaching out to me to discuss in detail.
There is no way to water down the scene that crosses over from last week’s Torah portion to this week. Last week, the Israelite men are enticed, by Moabite women, to participate in idol worship. God is not happy and tells Moses to kill the idolaters. Before Moses can act, an Israelite man and a Midianite woman openly have sex in front of the gathered assembly, near the Sanctuary. Without hesitation, Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron takes a spear and impales the two, inflagranti delicto. (And who says the Torah is boring?)
The Torah devotes much time to setting up courts and a legal system. And yet, in this week’s Parasha, Pinchas, literally taking matters into his own hands, works outside of the court system that God has set up. Pinchas’ extra-legal action pays off. He gets a gift of peace from God, and a plague that God had sent against the Israelites is stopped.
One would think that the message is that vigilantism and zealotry is a good thing. However, when we look at the rest of the Torah portion, we find that the message is much more nuanced.
The very next thing that happens in the Torah, is that Moses takes another census of the Israelites. On one level, the census acts as a momentary pause for the Israelites to take stock of themselves. It is not just about the numbers, it is about finding out where they are physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
We then find, through the story of the daughters of Zelophehad, whose father dies without a male heir, that the law is amendable. Whereas the Torah had initially only provided inheritance through the sons, God shifts the law to enable inheritance through daughters when there is no son. (To our egalitarian and equal rights centered world this sounds ridiculous. But at the time, it was a sea-change in the way the world worked.)
Moses is next told that he will die shortly and, rather than lament his fate, he wants to make sure that God has a successor in place. The result is that God tells Moses that Joshua will be the next leader and Moses appoints him publicly.
The Torah portion ends with God establishing the calendar of public sacrifices, the festivals, and the holy days of biblical Israel that serve as the foundation for contemporary Judaism. It lists the basic daily and annual cycle of observance: the daily offering, Shabbat, Rosh Hodesh, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Sh’mini Atzereth.
I don’t often give a summary of the weekly Torah portion, so why am I doing it here? There is a thread of understanding that I want to point out.
1) The Israelites exist, the Torah exists, God exists. Sometimes others (and even we) ignore these truths.
2) Others seek to harm us and we, sometimes, even take steps to harm ourselves. When this happens, someone needs to step up and defend us. Here it is Pinchas.
3) When there is trouble, within or without, we must self-assess. Here the census illustrates this need.
4) Everything is subject to change and change is best achieved through conversation and thoughtful consideration. This is illustrated by the story of the daughters of Zelophehad.
5) When you come to what you think is an ending, whether it be of a relationship, a business, or a life, always consider what will happen going forward. Moses' concern that a successor be named before he dies expresses the importance of this.
6) Finally, setting forth daily, weekly, monthly, and annual ritual helps to create community and to keep us centered in a world that often spins out of control. The Shabbat and holiday cycle provides this continual stabilizing connection for us. (These are not senseless attachments to a meaningless past. They are a glue that binds our past and future together)
Our world is in a state of, seemingly, perpetual (some might say “maniacal”) flux. The truths that we understood yesterday, are not necessarily the truths that exist today. The Torah provides tools that can help us to navigate the shifting complexities that confront us.
When things are broken: Open the toolbox, pull out the appropriate tool, and repair what needs repairing.
I suspect that many or you, like me, are wondering how to best deal with the myriad issues confronting us in ever-increasing amounts. Unfortunately, none of this is new to our tradition. If you have questions or thoughts, I am here.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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