Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Aharon Seleh
In this week’s parsha, Pinchos is credited with saving Israel from annihilation. There had been a terrible plague due to the sins of harlotry in Israel. Pinchos killed Zimri and the harlot, thereby ending the plague
The Zichron Meir points out that prior to this parsha, Pinchos was not a famous figure; he was just an ordinary individual. On the contrary, the shevatim were degrading him, saying “This grandson of someone who had fattened calves to be sacrificed for idols, had the gall to kill the prince of Israel! ”
Imagine, Israel is sinning and there is a plague raging. Zimri just sinned in public. The leaders are weeping. Pinchos stands up and takes action.
Pinchos could have thought to himself, “Who am I and what can I accomplish?†But he chose to act. This is an important lesson to us all.
We live in a society where so many of our brethren are lost, and there is so much impurity in the world. We must realize the power of an individual to change the world by influencing others. Reach out to them. Educate them. Spread the beauty of Emuna and Torah.
The possuk says, “He took a spear in his hand.” The Torah didn’t have to add “in his hand” as that is obvious. But the Torah is teaching us that’s the only action he took, afterwards he merited great heavenly assistance to carry it out. The same applies to us: just make an effort to draw others close, and Hashem will grant you great assistance.
Shabbat Shalom.