In this week’s reading we find Pinchas being rewarded with a special gift after having acted bravely in the last event of parashat Balak. A simple teaching for each one of us from Pinchas’ attitude.
This week’s Torah reading is called Pinchas. The name Pinchas refers to a person and is a direct continuation of last week’s reading, Balak. In Balak, we find Pinchas taking decisive action against Zimri, a leader of the tribe of Shimon, and Cozbi, a Midianite princess.
In this week’s reading, G-d rewards Pinchas with a special gift: the priesthood. Although his grandfather Aaron and his father Elazar were priests, Pinchas himself was not initially listed as one. Despite being born into a priestly family, he was not considered a priest until this moment.
This raises a simple question: how can Pinchas be given the priesthood when he was not originally designated as a priest? Typically, priesthood is inherited from one’s father, so if your father is not a priest, you cannot be one either.
The answer is that, although Pinchas was not on the initial list of priests, he was inherently fit for the role. His actions demonstrated his readiness for priesthood. When Pinchas saw the transgression, he approached Moses and asked about what should be done. Moses had forgotten the specific law for such a case, so Pinchas acted on his own, killing Zimri and Cozbi.
This act of bravery showed that Pinchas was ready for self-sacrifice and commitment to G-d’s law. He was not given the priesthood until he proved his potential through action.
The story teaches us a valuable lesson: even if we see that important tasks are not being addressed by those expected to handle them, we should remember that if we recognize a need and understand what should be done, it is often because we are meant to take on that responsibility. Just as Pinchas was given the priesthood after demonstrating his readiness, each of us has potential that can be realized through our actions.
When you find yourself facing a challenge or need, it often means you are the one chosen to address it. The situation you are in might be a sign that you have the strength and responsibility to take action.
Parshat Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
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