Rabbi's Musings

In this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron the High Priest, is a figure of passionate action. When the Israelites fell into idolatry and immorality with the Moabites, Pinchas acted decisively—killing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were flagrantly defying God’s commands. His bold act stopped a deadly plague and restored divine favor. Though controversial, Pinchas’s zeal was rewarded by God with a brit shalom—a covenant of peace—and a promise of eternal priesthood. His story, found in Numbers 25, raises timeless questions about the balance between justice, peace, and the cost of moral courage. Pinchas reminds us that sometimes, standing up for sacred values requires both conviction and restraint. The wisdom is knowing which is to be privileged at any given time.
 
There are moments in our life when we should act suddenly and passionately, and there are times when reflection is the order of the day. Personally, I am most comfortable when the choice is black and white and action is required. Sadly, most situations call for reflection. I am trying to train myself. I understand that in ancient times acting quickly, especially if an animal was trying to kill you, was the best choice. Often these days the sabertooth tigers figuratively are not as menacing as we might believe. Therefore, I would advise we be more on the side of restraint.

Although Pinchas seems like a hero in the story, I would argue that the true hero of the portion is Joshua, who will get the prestigious job of succeeding Moses not because he is a hot head but because he is a genuine leader, thinking before acting. Pinchas makes for a good story. Joshua is the leader we deserve.