By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman
This
week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated in
memory of Elka bas Zisel OBM
Dedicated
in memory of Leah bas Rochel OBM
This week's Torah portion, Pinchas (Bamidbor [Numbers]
25:10-30:1) begins with the reward which Pinchas received for
his act of bravery—meting out punishment to Zimri ben Salu who was
openly contemptuous of Moses and was cohabiting with a Midianite
woman. Zimri was the chieftain of the Tribe of Shimon, who were
staunchly loyal to their leader. Thus Pinchas's act was fraught with
danger. The Talmud speaks of the various miracles which occurred on
that day which allowed Pinchas to emerge unscathed from Zimri's tent.
Pinchas’s act wasn't too rational. He was the proverbial
man in Tiananmen Square standing in front of the approaching column of tanks.
His chances of success were minimal, but he was merely following the example of
the very first Jew. Abraham was a young man in Ur, living amongst a
pagan society, when he started preaching a philosophy of monotheism.
The
dictatorial tyrant Nimrod was decidedly displeased with the nuisance
Abraham was creating. In fact, Abraham was called the "Ivri"
(Hebrew), which means "from the other side," because the entire world
was on one side while he, with his monotheistic beliefs, was on the other side.
But Abraham didn't flinch because he knew that he was doing the right thing.
The story of Abraham and Pinchas has repeated
itself like a broken record throughout our difficult but glorious history. Our
nation would not exist today if not for the many heroic, odds-defying acts
performed by courageous individuals and groups. Two examples: The holiday
of Chanukah celebrates the bravery of a small group of people who
refused to reconcile themselves with the spiritual pollution of Hellenism and
battled a Greek army which was many times larger and stronger than they.
As well, this week's Torah portion always falls in
proximity to the 12th-13th of Tammuz (this year –this past 26th-27th of
June), the day when Chabad Chassidim celebrate the miraculous release
of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Chabad Rebbe, OBM,
from Stalinist-communist prison in 1927. This happened after he was sentenced
to be executed by a firing squad. At a time when teaching Torah meant almost
certain death or Siberian slave labor, the Rebbe did not despair. He defied the
Soviet regime, and encouraged his followers to do the same. He established underground yeshivas, mikvahs, kosher slaughter-houses,
etc., and he personally oversaw and arranged for the financing of this
underground network of Jewish defiance.
The end result of all these stories was victory.
Abraham's opponents are relegated to the annals of history, whereas millions of
his descendants still follow the path which he paved.
[Actually, his legacy
includes not only the Jews, but also most of the population of the world today
that follow religions which are ostensibly monotheistic – and all of them find
their roots in Abraham.] Pinchas was rewarded for his deed, and to
this very day his offspring serve asKohanim (priests) who bless the Jewish
people and will resume their service in the Holy Temple with the coming of
the Moshiach.
The Greeks were banished from the Holy Land; Torah-true Judaism continued to
flourish; and we were given another few days every year to celebrate, eat, and
be merry… Jewish education continued behind the Iron Curtain until the day when
it was shattered. They are gone, and the Torah is still here and there in
Russia.
Even when the odds are against us, we must put up a fight
for that which is right. We must do what is incumbent upon us, and G‑d will
take care of the rest.
(Excerpts from Chabad.org - by Rabbi Naftali
Silberberg)
May you have a meaningful and uplifting Shabbos!
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