Be Brave and We'll Win (adapted from Rabbi N. Silberberg)
Pinchas’s story in this week’s Torah portion is one of bravery and courage. One single man, he stood alone, meting out punishment to Zimri who was openly contemptuous of Moses and cohabiting with a Midyanite woman (read the story below: “Torah Portion in a Nutshell”).
Pinchas 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 a Jew, following the example of his ancestor Abraham.
In the midst of a pagan world and at the risk of being killed Abraham was the lone voice monotheism. In fact Abraham is known as "the Ivri", which is generally translated as "the Hebrew". Literally, though, the word "Ivri" means "from the other side". This is 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.
And this week we celebrated the story of a modern Pinchas, the miraculous release of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Chabad Rebbe, from Stalinist-communist prison in 1927. This 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 as the kohens (priests) who bless the Jewish people in synagogues across the globe.
And in the former Soviet Union, Judaism continued behind the Iron Curtain until the day when it was shattered. They are gone, and the Torah thrives.
In our personal lives as well, we all face moments when our commitment to Judaism is challenged and when capitulating might seem life the safest option. It is on this Shabbat when we glean strength from Pinchas to hold steadfast & stand up for the Torah. When we do our part G‑d takes care of the rest.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick
