Pinchas Shir addresses the complicated narrative on Pinchas’ murderous actions that resulted in God’s praise and the cessation of thousands of deaths. The emphasis should not be on the superficial elements of the narrative — a death sentence for idolatry – but the actions of one person, however gruesome, that resulted in the saving on many lives; God saw his actions as virtuous.
Moses asked God to name a leader who would “go out before them and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in.” Why the duplication? Rabbi Sacks writes about the sense of timing that is required in good leadership—what is possible when? For most leaders, the hardest challenge is change – people change slowly, and frequently resist, or experience the change as loss. When the timing is wrong, the people don’t follow.
It is approximately one month since the passing of Rabbi Guy Hillel Greene, and while the pain of the news of Wednesday may 8th may now for us be somewhat subsiding, surely the fond memories we all hold for Rabbi Greene and his unwavering optimism and sunny disposition will live on in our hearts and minds.
Rabbi Barenblat writes about the recurring theme of death in this parashah, rather than focusing on the challenging concept of hukim, which don’t appear to make sense. In her experience, the contact with the dead isn’t an “unclean” experience, as much as it is a changing experience; one becomes spiritually out of phase for a period of time. Since the ritual of parah adumah is impossible today, we have developed other rituals to address the challenging contact with death, such as shiva. However, in light of the terrible events on October 7, everyone-Jews and Palestinians-has been touched by death, without the luxury of closure. We lack the rituals that in Biblical times would have washed away the grief.
Composed by Danny Maseng
performed by Cantor Jenni Asher and Roger Treece
Rabbi Lowenstein discusses the spiritual essence of the water in this parashah—an element so precious and vital to our lives that we could not survive for more than a few days without it. Please follow the link below to hear his focused statement on not taking our water for granted:
Rabbi Sacks explores the concepts of “aloneness” vs “set apart”. One can lead to leadership and vision, whereas the other, “aloneness”, leads to delegitimization and anti-semitism.
Emotion is more critical than reason in the choices that we make. However, most of our emotional intelligence is in our subconscious. This is the logic of the chukim, which seemingly make no rational sense, including such statues as the prohibition of sowing mixed seeds together, or mixing wool and linen, or meat and milk. Considering contemporary neuroscience, these laws are designed to bypass the rational brain, establishing instinctive behavior patterns to counteract dark emotional drives in the mind.
Dr. Mantell takes a different approach to Moses’ reaction to the rebellion. Moses’ response of “falling on his face” is a reflection of his humility and selflessness, while turning to God to resolve the matter. Korach is distinguished from Moses in his total lack of humility; his dispute was not “for the sake of heaven”.