Pinchas: A Non-Kohen Kohen?

Hi,

[From an article I published for this past Shabbat, in our Toronto Torah weekly.]

The Talmud (Zevachim 102a) describes the superlative joy felt by Elisheva bat Aminadav on the day the Mishkan was dedicated, beyond her joy in our own spiritual heights: "Elisheva experienced five joys, beyond the joy felt by all Jewish women. Her brother-in-law [Moshe] was the king, her husband [Aharon] was the kohen gadol, her son [Elazar] was the sgan, her grandson [Pinchas] was anointed to lead the nation in war, and her brother [Nachshon] was head of a tribe."

This passage contains an apparent anachronism, though: As the Talmud (Zevachim 101b) explains Bamidbar 25:13, "And Pinchas and his children after him will have the covenant of eternal kehunah," Pinchas was not a kohen until the events of our parshah. This was almost forty years after the dedication of the Mishkan!

Rabbi Baruch HaLevi Epstein (Torah Temimah to Shir haShirim 3:6) contends that the two talmudic passages are simply contradictory. However, Rashbam offered a possible resolution, suggesting that one could become a kohen as far as leading the nation to war, without becoming a kohen for the rest of the roles of the kohen. [This may explain the Rambam's view, in Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Klei haMikdash 4:21, that the position of leading the nation to war is not an inherited position.]

One might suggest that the reason Rashbam feels comfortable splitting military leadership from general kehunah is his explanation of the word "kohen". To Rashbam, as seen in his commentary to Bereishit 41:45, the word "kohen" does not mean "member of the priestly family". Rather, "kohen" means "officer", one designated to perform a particular task. Therefore, Pinchas might be the "Military kohen" before he ever becomes a "Mishkan kohen".

Rashbam's point should resonate for all of us who are not part of the kohen caste, for we, too, are partial kohanim. We are charged with the role of being "mamlechet kohanim," an empire of priests. (Shemot 19:6) Like Pinchas pre-Parshat Pinchas, we are officers, with leadership roles. Rather than bemoan the fact that we are not privileged to be full kohanim, let us rejoice in our elevated mission, and go forth with it to the greatest success.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Traveler's Prayer

Hi,

"One who travels must recite tefilat haderech. What is tefilat haderech? 'May it be Your will, my Gd, that You lead me towards peace, direct my steps toward peace, support me toward peace, and rescue me from the hand of any enemy or ambush on the way, and send blessing upon my handiwork, and give me favour, generosity and mercy in Your eyes and the eyes of all who see me. You are blessed, Gd, who listens to prayer.'

 
"Abbaye said: One should always merge himself with the community [by wording his prayer in the plural, on behalf of the community]."

(Talmud, Berachot 29b-30a) 

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Accepting restitution for theft

Hi,

"One who steals a perutah's worth [about five cents at today's silver prices] from someone is as though he takes his life, as Proverbs 1:19 says, 'So are the ways of all who pursue material wealth; he takes the life of its owner.'

"Nonetheless, where the stolen item no longer exists, and the thief wishes to repent, and he comes independently to pay for the theft, the sages have enacted that we do not accept it from him. Rather, we aid him and forgive him, in order to bring penitents close to the straight path. The sages are not pleased with one who accepts payment for the theft."

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Gezeilah va'Aveidah 1:13)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Reward and Rachav

Hi,

"One should not cheat anyone of their reward; reward must be paid for every good deed. Thus Joshua instructed that Rachav and her household be kept alive, and he explained that this was because she had hid the spies sent by Joshua. He did not say it was because of the oath the spies had sworn [to save her and her household]."

(Ralbag to Yehoshua 8:29, Lesson 10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Today's fast: The 17th of Tammuz

Hi,

"In the fourth month, on the ninth of the month, the famine strengthened in the city and there was no bread for the population. And the city was breached and the soldiers fled, and they departed the city via the gate between the walls by the king's garden, with the Chaldeans surrounding the city, and they traveled via the aravah."

(Yirmiyahu 52:6-7)


"Yirmiyahu spoke regarding the first Beit haMikdash, whereas in the time of the second Beit haMikdash the city was breached on the 17th of Tammuz. A braita corroborates this, saying, 'In the first Beit haMikdash the city was breached on the 9th of Tammuz. In the second, on the 17th of Tammuz.'"

(Talmud, Taanit 28b)

צום קל ומועיל,
Mordechai

Attracting conversion

Hi,

"When Israel fulfills Gd's will, Gd scours the world, finds righteous people and brings them to Israel, like Yitro and Rachav."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 2:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The price of Torah excellence

Hi,
"How do we know that Torah endures only in one who kills himself for it? Bamidbar 19:14 - 'This is the Torah: When one dies in a tent.'"

(Talmud, Berachot 63b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Should we pursue asceticism?

Hi,

"This is the way of Torah: Eat bread with salt, drink measured liquid, sleep on the ground, live a life of pain and work in Torah. If you do this, 'You will be fortunate and it will be good for you'"…

(Pirkei Avot 6:4)

 
"This is not telling the wealthy to live of a life of pain in order to learn Torah. Rather: Even if one only has bread with salt… he should not refrain from involving himself in Torah…"

(Rambam to Avot 6:4) 

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Talking about our departure from Egypt

Hi,

The Torah mandates that the owner of a donkey redeem its first-born progeny by dedicating a lamb in its place, or by donating the lamb‘s monetary equivalent. Failure to do so means that the donkey‘s owner must instead end his donkey‘s life. Our sages wrote that the penalty of losing one‘s donkey is meant to encourage owners to fulfill the mitzvah of redeeming their donkeys.

The Torah explains that this mitzvah is meant to remind us of our own redemption from Egypt, and of the destruction of the Egyptian firstborn. Why donkeys, though? Rambam, in his Moreh haNevuchim, suggested that the Torah singled out donkeys because they are common beasts, and because their ability to carry burdens make them indispensable for all people.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

National priorities

Hi,

"After the Six-Day War, when a Torah scholar and professor came to Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah Kook and asked him why he did not begin to build the Temple, he responded, 'The mitzvah of building the Kingdom of Israel takes precedence, according to the ruling of the Rambam at the beginning of the Laws of Kings.'" 

(Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Sichot HaRav Tzvi Yehudah, Chapters of Messiah 4:Talmud Torah 1 addendum 2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai