The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Pinchas

The Rebbe says:

1. At the end of last week’s Torah portion the Torah told us that the law concerning what to do with Zimri the Prince of the tribe of Shimon (Simeon) was concealed from Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher), Aharon Hakohen (Aaron the High Priest), and all of the elders, however Pinchas (Phinehas), the “smallest” of the congregation, remembered that Moshe Rabbeinu had taught him that if a man has relations with a non-Jewish woman “a zealot may kill him” and therefore Pinchas then went (with the permission of Moshe Rabbeinu) and simultaneously thrust a spear through Zimri the prince of the tribe of Shimon and this Midianite woman.

In the beginning of this week’s Torah portion Hashem (G-d) tells Moshe Rabbeinu that Pinchas deserves a great reward for, “zealously avenging My vengeance”, and therefore Pinchas should now become a Kohen (a Priest).

2. The Rebbe tells us what we can learn from this:

There are certain issues which the “Gedolim” (“great ones”) of the generation do not address and keep quiet about, however this is not a proof that nothing must be done. We cannot make calculations that, “since the “Gedolim” didn’t say anything why should I get involved?” We must know that if we see that we can do something about it- we must do something about it, and this that the “Gedolim” have not said anything about it is only in order that he should have the chance to serve Hashem in this area and fulfill his mission in life, as it says regarding Pinchas, “Hashem concealed the law from Moshe Rabbeinu, Aharon Hakohen, and all of the elders so that Pinchas should be rewarded for this and become a Kohen”.

3. The Rebbe continues this theme:

One may say to himself, “If I speak up and get involved in this issue I will be taking the chance away from someone else to fulfill this. How can I do this?”

However this reasoning is incorrect because just as the Talmud tells us that one cannot infringe on the livelihood of his friend and whatever was prepared for him by Hashem cannot be taken away, so too with Torah and Mitzvos we cannot infringe on our friends’ part. This is as it says, “(May it be Your will, G-d, our G-d, the G-d of our fathers, to build the Beit Hamikdash speedily in our days) and give us our portion in Your Torah”; each Jew has his portion in the Torah which no other Jew can take away, as the Talmud tells us, “Rebbi Akiva taught a certain Halachah (Jewish law) that even Moshe Rabbeinu didn’t know”.

4. The Rebbe now adds to the lesson being learned from Pinchas by quoting a saying regarding Pinchas:

Our Sages tell us that, “Pinchas is Eliyahu (Elijah the Prophet)”. This means that Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet) was a reincarnation of Pinchas. However if this is the case, (that Eliyahu Hanavi was a reincarnation of Pinchas), and we know that Eliyahu Hanavi lived after Pinchas, shouldn’t our Sages have said, “Eliyahu (who lived later) is Pinchas (who lived earlier)”?

We can answer this according to the Zohar which says that Eliyahu Hanavi actually lived before Pinchas (and after), however this was as an angel, not a man. This is why our Sages say, “Pinchas (who lived later) is Eliyahu (who lived earlier as an angel)”.

The lesson we can learn from this is a continuation from earlier: We just mentioned above that one of the lessons we can learn from Pinchas is not to look and see if other people are taking care of a certain issue; if it comes to our hands we must take care of it. However, our enthusiasm and optimism can be hampered when we ask ourself, “Where will I get the strength to fulfill mission?”

The answer to this is that, “Pinchas is Eliyahu”: Being that Hashem placed this task infront of you, you surely have the strength to fulfill this, and it is even possible that you have the spark of an angel within you.

5. The Rebbe finishes off:

When we try to fulfill our task at hand with the Mesiras Nefesh (self sacrifice) of Pinchas we will surely be successful, and this will lead to the fulfillment of our Sages promise that Eliyah Hanavi (who is Pinchas) coming and announcing that our time of redemption has arrived.

And as the Previous Rebbe (Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson) explained, Mesiras Nefesh does not entitle climbing on a roof and jumping off (Heaven Forbid), Mesiras Nefesh should be done without publicity, as it says, “G-d was not in the uproar”

Translated and adapted by Shalom Goldberg. Taken from Likutei Sichos volume two, first Sicha.