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Parshas Pinchas
A Single, Eternal Moment
On one hand, the story of Pinchas
is straightforward. There was a crisis in the Jewish people, and Pinchas
responded to the call, which, given the solution, was not an easy thing
to do. He was not a killer, and certainly not one to seek attention. It
is very hard for the average person to spill blood, even that of an
enemy, so how much more so that of a fellow Jew who happened to be a
leader as well. Pinchas really had to push himself to carry through
regarding a very difficult halachah that could have had very dire
consequences for him:
Had Zimri separated from his mistress and Pinchas had killed him,
Pinchas would have been executed on this account. And, had Zimri turned
upon Pinchas and killed him [in self-defense], he would not have been
executed, since Pinchas was a pursuer.” (Sanhedrin 82a)
On the other hand, there are many details to the entire story that
make it less straightforward. For example, where did this crisis come
from in the first place? Just after Bilaam was forced to praise the
Jewish people for their modesty, how did they go out and act so
indecently? After Bilaam was compelled to admit the Jewish nation has
only one God, how did they end up worshipping idols?
Furthermore, who is this Pinchas character, and where did he come from, aside from his genealogy which the Torah
provides? Why was he the one, out of all the great people around, to
save the day and be rewarded so fully? Where was Moshe Rabbeinu all of
this time, and why didn’t he respond to the crisis on behalf of the
Jewish nation?
The answer to this question will come at the end of a short
intellectual journey that begins with a story, a true story from the
annals of baseball. It is a story about how a single, seemingly
innocuous moment can, without much warning, dramatically transform one’s
life forever.
Thousands of fans turned their frustration and angst into a
concentrated beam of hatred. That hate was placed on one man who did
what any other fan in his position would. It’s time to move on, time to
forgive and time for an apology. We all remember the initial reaction
that took place as Moises Alou attempted to reel in a foul ball for a
pivotal out. The Cubs left fielder maniacally threw his arms down,
making the thousands in attendance aware that something tremendous had
just occurred.
The Moment
Mark Prior was in the middle of a 3-0 shutout. He had Juan Pierre at
second and Luis Castillo in the box. The Cubs were just five outs away
from the World Series, a place they had not reached since 1945. Castillo
fouled off a pitch down the left field line. Alou gave chase, leaped
into the stands and came down with nothing but frustration.
The Fallout
Little by little, decades of baseball frustration began to boil
over. Expletives began to fly towards the area that Steve Bartman, a fan
that deflected the foul ball, was sitting. The game that started to
unravel was being blamed on a fan dressed in nothing but Cubs gear,
wearing headphones so that he could hear the home-team play-by-play. On
any other day, a passerby might say, now that is a real fan. Once
expletives failed to get their point across, beer began raining in on
Bartman, a man who would live in infamy after the Cubs’ loss.
The Sorrow
Imagine loving something so much, only to see it tear your life to
smithereens. Bartman was enjoying something magical that night. His team
was on their way to the promised land. Moments later, they were ousted
and he was being blamed for the whole thing. You can sense the sorrow he
felt reading his statement from 2003: “There are few words to describe
how awful I feel and what I have experienced within these last 24 hours.
I’ve been a Cub fan all my life and fully understand the relationship
between my actions and the outcome of the game. I had my eyes glued on
the approaching ball the entire time and was so caught up in the moment
that I did not even see Moises Alou, much less that he may have had a
play. Had I thought for one second that the ball was playable or had I
seen Alou approaching I would have done whatever I could to get out of
the way and give Alou a chance to make the catch. To Moises Alou, the
Chicago Cubs organization, Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, and Cub fans
everywhere I am so truly sorry from the bottom of this Cubs fan’s
broken heart. I ask that Cub fans everywhere redirect the negative
energy that has been vented towards my family, my friends, and myself
into the usual positive support for our beloved team on their way to
being National League champs.” For Bartman, there is no retribution or
apology from fans. The nameless mob that ruined his life will never give
him back his anonymity. The 2003 Cubs and Bartman will be inextricably
linked, and that is downright unfair. Bartman did what any jubilant fan
would have done. I have seen the same exuberant reach for a foul ball
hundreds of times since that night. It's time to give Bartman back his
life. The man was only guilty of loving his team more than most.
(Bleacher Report, Gabe Zaldivar, September 27, 2011)
Until last week, I knew about none of this, and certainly had never
heard the name Steve Bartman before. As Divine Providence would have it,
I just happened to be waiting for someone in a place (in Toronto) where
this story was being told, and I was totally taken aback by the fallout
of the event. I don’t know how many people viewed it the way I did, but
for me, it was such an incredible lesson about life, especially in time
for this week’s parshah.
I imagine Steve Bartman starting out his day like any other, except
that he was probably excited about going to the game that might clinch a
spot for his beloved team in the World Series, after so many tries. His
whole day probably revolved around going to the event, which he
assumed, win or lose, would have little long-term impact on his life.
Why should he have thought otherwise?
Nor did the people he attended the game with ever assume that their
friend would become Public Enemy #1 later that day. Why should they
have? How many times had they gone to watch a baseball game together,
and come home with little to report but the score itself? What are the
odds of what happened to Steve Bartman that fateful day happening to
anyone? Very, very few, especially given all the nice things people who
knew him had to say in his defense.
I do not know why what happened to Steve Bartman actually happened
to him. He seemed like a nice enough guy. However, I do know why such
things happen to people like Pinchas, and Bilaam for that matter. The
single moments that transformed their lives so dramatically, and so
eternally, were actually backed-up by trillions of moments that
literally shaped their lives and gave them direction. The Midrash says:
“They were crying at the opening of the Appointed Tent” (Bamidbar
25:6): Their hands became weakened at that moment . . . They cried?! Did
[Moshe] not stand up against 600,000 [at the time of the golden calf],
as it says, “He took the calf which they had made” (Shemos 32:20), [and
yet you say that] his hands were weakened?! Rather, [Moshe was made to
forget the law] in order for Pinchas to take that which he deserved.
(Bamidbar Rabbah 20:24)
What does it mean, “to take that which he deserved”? When? All of
his life. Where? Everywhere he performed a mitzvah. How? But zealously
fulfilling the will of God like it was his own. Likewise, Bilaam got
what he deserved. When? All of his short life. Where? Every time he
either cursed or blessed someone. How? By making sure that everything he
did was for his own benefit.
I recall how, during the week of my Sheva Brochos at one of the
meals, one of my relatives choked on a fish bone and could not breath.
As all of us sat there stunned and ready to panic, one gentlemen,
sitting on the other side of the table of the choking person, calmly put
one foot on a chair, the next foot on the table, before stepping down
behind the person and applying the Heimlick Maneuver and dislodging the
bone.
Since everyone was well, the festivities continued, but the event
left an indelible mark on me. I remember how time seemed to stand still
as I watched the hero step over the table and save the person’s life.
But, more importantly, I remember the tremendous feeling of inadequacy I
had felt at the time, not knowing what to do save a person’s life in
such a situation. I had been totally unprepared for such a crisis.
It is no coincidence that people who know CPR often find themselves
in situations that take advantage of their skill. It is no coincidence
that people with wisdom find themselves in situations that require it.
And, it is no coincidence that people who are zealous for God find
themselves in situations that prove their zealousness, or that people
with shady pasts end up in scandals. If indirect Divine Providence
doesn’t arrange it, then God Himself will.
Hence, the rabbis point out that Pirkei Avos, which deals with
character refinement, is in the section of technical and dry laws that
deal with damages of all types. This is their way of teaching that
damages, even accidental ones, are the result of an inappropriate lack
of concern for the well-being of others, and if the carelessness itself
doesn’t result in doing damage, then Divine Providence will create a
moment that will allow it to do so.
Hence, though Bilaam saw modesty when he looked down into the Jewish
camp, what he could not see was the potential for indecency amongst
some of the nation. However, given the right circumstance, as Bilaam
advised Balak, that would quickly become exposed and result in both
chaos and Divine wrath. When Zimri’s moment came around, a lifetime of
incorrect thinking made him famous for the wrong reasons.
The same was true for Bilaam. He was handed an incredible moment,
one which could have left him with a good name forever. He knew that God
intended to bless the Jewish nation, and he had the opportunity to be
the mouth through whom God would do it. However, a lifetime of selfish
behavior denied him the spiritual fortitude to rise to the occasion, and
instead, he went down in infamy.
In contrast to all of this, Pinchas used his single moment to become
a hero. A lifetime of self-work and character refinement allowed him to
take advantage of his single moment to become a savior of the Jewish
people, and a favorite of God. It even earned him the right to become
Eliyahu HaNavi, who will herald the Final Redemption. An entire lifetime
summed up in a single, eternal moment. It is, perhaps, the most
important lesson about life.
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Please Say Yes to Abba Yahweh and His Laws special in
this time when Abba Yahweh is 'testing' us:
Hab 1:12 Art thou not mikedem
(‘everlasting’
also said of Moshiach, indicating Moshiach’s eternal divine nature: Dan 7:14 And there was given Him (Moshiach) dominion,
and honor, and sovereignty, that all people, Goyim, tongues, should
pey-lammed-chet. [1] (worship as deity) (see Dan 3:12, serve, reverence as
deity Him (Moshiach). His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not
pass away, and His (Messianic) Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.] see Michah
5:1[2];)
Yahweh
Elohai (my Elohim) Kedoshi (my Holy One)? We shall not die. Yahweh, Thou hast
appointed them (these Chaldean) for mishpat (ordinance); O Tzur, Thou hast
ordained them (these Chaldean) for reproof.
(Please
read the whole book of HaNavi Habakuk?)
Please take it serious what Abba Yahweh is telling us in:
Deu 18:15 Yahweh Eloheicha (your Elohim) will raise up unto thee a Navi
(prophet) from among thee, of thy achim (bretheren), kamoni (like me.....
Exo 32:30 The next
day Moshe said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin. Now I
will go up to Yahweh; maybe I will be able to atone for your sin."); unto
him ye must listen;
Deu 18:16 According to all that thou
desired of Yahweh Eloheicha (your Elohimin) Chorev (to be burnt dried up,
ruined, wasted) in the Yom HaKahal (day of the congregation), saying, Let me
not hear again the voice of Yahweh Elohav (your Elohim), neither let me see
this eish hagedolah (‘great fire’) any more, that I die not.
Deu 18:17 And Yahweh said unto me, They
have well-spoken that which they have spoken.
Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Navi
(prophet) from among their achim (brethren), like unto thee, and will put My
words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Joh
10:18
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have samchut
(authority) to lay it down, and I have samchut to receive it again. This
mitzvah I received from HaAv (the Father).
Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass,
that whosoever will not listen unto My words which he shall speak Bishmi (in My
Name), I will require it of him.
Joh 8:28 Therefore, Rebbe, Melech
HaMoshiach said to them, When you perform the hagbah (lifting up) of
the Ben HaAdam, you will have da'as (knowledge) that Ani Hu [YESHAYAH
41:4; SHEMOT 3:14-16], and from myself I do nothing, but as HaAv (the Father)
of me taught me, these things I speak.
[1]
Dictionary of the Talmud. M. Jastrow p. 1178 פלח
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