Don’t Wait for Others to Act
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This week’s parsha of Pinchas continues from last week's parsha with the story of Aaron’s grandson Pinchas and the reward received for his act of courageous zealotry in attacking Zimri and thereby saving the Jewish people from the plague that had claimed 24,000 lives.
Moshe Rabbenu, the Sanhedrin and 88,000 judges were present as Pinchas recalled the halacha that Moshe Rabbenu taught. He approached Moshe and asked: “Didn’t you teach us that if someone sees another person having relations publicly with a gentile woman and is overcome by righteous indignation, he may warn him and, if he does not stop, etc without trial?” Moshe replied, “You are correct! If you qualify, then since you remembered this halacha, you deserve the honor of fulfilling it!”
Why didn't Pinchas assume that if it were important any of these other great people would surely have taken care of it without his help? This teaches us a great lesson. When we see something wrong and other people seem to be standing on the side, even great people, for whatever reason we don't look the other way. We don't say if it were important surely they would have taken care of it. We learn from the story of Pinchas the essential lesson that it's up to us to confront what we see and take action when it's necessary.
Pinchas knew that when people would see Zimri behave in such a fashion with a non-jewish woman it would establish the acceptability of intermarriage. He knew he had only one moment, this moment to act based on the halacha.
Some might interpret Pinchas’ actions to be overzealous. When the Torah recounts this story it mentions Pinchas by name; Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen. The Torah reminds us that Pinchas was a Kohen, a man of Chesed. The children of Aharon love peace and pursue peace. Pinchas did not act because he was overzealous. He did it because he was from the family of Aharon who bless the Jewish people with love, not with anger. His intention was to stop the plague which had claimed 24, 000 lives.
He was zealous, but he wasn't overzealous. He first consulted with Moshe Rabbenu.
Today we are not dealing with a Zimri who knows the difference. Nowadays we are dealing with people who don't know. All the more so we need to consult with the Moshe Rabbenu of our times, the Rebbe. When we take a look around us at the world today we know that it's upon us to do something to change the world for the better and to help bring Moshiach. We consult the Rebbe’s teachings and guidance. We follow the Rebbe’s campaigns and do our part. We learn from the example of Pinchas and don't sit on the side and wait for others to act.
Eliyahu HaNavi will proclaim the arrival of Moshiach. Chazal says that Pinchas is Eliyahu. By emulating the ways of Pinchas may we merit the arrival of Moshiach today.
A Good Shabbos