By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman
This week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated by Mr. Binyomin
Philipson in memory of his late mother Mrs. Ellen (Elka bas
Zisel) Philipson OBM
Pinchas,
the hero of this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas (Bamidbor [Numbers]
25:10-30:1) was previously unheard of. Though as a grandson of Aaron he
belonged to the “royal family,” he was an unseeded young man, who, with a
single act of bravery was catapulted to stardom.
The Talmud
(Sanhedrin 82a) tells the behind the scenes story. Zimri, a prince of the tribe
of Shimon, publicly flaunts his intimate relationship with a heathen Midianite
princess. Moses is momentarily stymied. Pinchas respectfully reminds Moses that
he himself taught the principle that one who behaves as Zimri did may be
executed by the zealous. Moses responds that since Pinchas remembered this, he,
Pinchas, should be the one to actually carry it out. Pinchas duly does just
that and the terrible plague that had taken the lives of thousands is stilled.
G-d blesses Pinchas with His Covenant of Peace and Pinchas goes down in history
as the hero who saved the day.
Now Pinchas
could have thought. Here stand Moses and Aaron, other prominent elders and
leaders and they are all silent. Who, then, am I to step forward? Surely I must
keep quiet and hold my peace.
But Pinchas
did not say that. And thank G-d he didn’t. Had he kept his silence, the plague
might not have been averted and Pinchas would have remained a non-entity.
This, says
the Lubavitcher Rebbe, serves a powerful lesson to all of us. If you witnesses
a situation where you feel that you can make a difference, then you must. And
the fact that greater people than you seem paralyzed should not necessarily
mean that you too should remain idle. Perhaps you are earmarked for greatness
and G-d is opening your window of opportunity. Deny yourself this moment and
you deny destiny.
Sometimes
the moment is yours. Sometimes greater people may vacillate and the
responsibility and opportunity rest with you and you alone. Each of us has so
much unlocked potential. Rare and precious are those crossroads of life when
the chance to unleash that inner calling presents itself.
Similarly
we find this thought played out in the story of Purim. The Megillah records how
Queen Esther is asked by Mordechai to intercede with King Achashverus on behalf
of her people. She explains that she fears this may be absolutely suicidal for
her. Mordechai responds with rather strong words, Relief and deliverance
will come for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will
perish. What Mordechai was telling Esther was that the chance to single
handedly save one’s entire nation doesn’t present itself every day. It is a
unique moment and ought to be seized. If you won’t do it, someone else will;
but this once in a lifetime opportunity may be lost to you forever.
Pinchas reminds us that when opportunity knocks we should open the door
quickly. Do not hesitate. Destiny may be beckoning.
(Excerpts from Chabad.org - from Rabbi Yossy Goldman)
May you have a meaningful and uplifting Shabbos
