Dear Friends,
Although it has been a major theme of life for months – zealotry – it still bears attention today, especially as our Torah portion addresses that theme, directly, head-on.
The portion opens with reiterating the episode when Pinchas, a priest, zealously stabbed a man and a woman – a couple who were who were flaunting their sexual relationship – and killed them publicly. The Torah describes that God rewarded Pinchas with a “Brit Shalom,” a Pact of Friendship, rewarding him for his violent attack on the two persons.
Yet, Pinchas acted as a vigilante, killing two persons summarily and even viciously, without the sanction of either Moses or God, and is deemed a religious zealot for this deed.
Does Torah condemn zealotry, or does it reward it? What is our position?
It would be nice if we could be singular of focus, and offer a simple answer, yet this is complex. Both America, and the Jewish people, were born out of rebellious and almost zealous undertakings: the Boston Tea Party, the Declaration of Independence and the War of Independence birthed the United States, while Moses’ confrontation with Pharaoh and the subsequent ten plagues liberated the Israelites. Both required the unrelenting confrontation of a Sam Adams or an Aaron and Moses, and both could be termed zealots.
Yet, both are accepted as righteous in the lenses of history – one sanctioned by the will of the people, and the other through the dictate of God. Zealotry becomes troublesome when it is unsanctioned, contrary to the will of the people or of law, and borders gratuitous violence. Recent gang violence may be stirred by zealotry. Political extremism in America may be termed zealotry. We have seen religious zealotry destroy Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. In the last century, and more recent decades, we have seen racist zealotry overtake Germany in the 1930’s, and political zealotry led by dictators in Latin America, southeast Asia and Africa.
In short, zealotry blinds the eyes, and threatens the safety and security of communities.
Thus, when God offered a pact of friendship with the aggressor, Pinchas, we are left with more questions than answers. Some commentators have tried to recast the episode celebrating Pinchas’ righteousness, or alignment with God. Others vilify and castigate him.
To me – I see warnings in zealous behavior, and prefer to preach a moderation and perspicacity.
Zealotry? Be careful!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Although it has been a major theme of life for months – zealotry – it still bears attention today, especially as our Torah portion addresses that theme, directly, head-on.
The portion opens with reiterating the episode when Pinchas, a priest, zealously stabbed a man and a woman – a couple who were who were flaunting their sexual relationship – and killed them publicly. The Torah describes that God rewarded Pinchas with a “Brit Shalom,” a Pact of Friendship, rewarding him for his violent attack on the two persons.
Yet, Pinchas acted as a vigilante, killing two persons summarily and even viciously, without the sanction of either Moses or God, and is deemed a religious zealot for this deed.
Does Torah condemn zealotry, or does it reward it? What is our position?
It would be nice if we could be singular of focus, and offer a simple answer, yet this is complex. Both America, and the Jewish people, were born out of rebellious and almost zealous undertakings: the Boston Tea Party, the Declaration of Independence and the War of Independence birthed the United States, while Moses’ confrontation with Pharaoh and the subsequent ten plagues liberated the Israelites. Both required the unrelenting confrontation of a Sam Adams or an Aaron and Moses, and both could be termed zealots.
Yet, both are accepted as righteous in the lenses of history – one sanctioned by the will of the people, and the other through the dictate of God. Zealotry becomes troublesome when it is unsanctioned, contrary to the will of the people or of law, and borders gratuitous violence. Recent gang violence may be stirred by zealotry. Political extremism in America may be termed zealotry. We have seen religious zealotry destroy Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. In the last century, and more recent decades, we have seen racist zealotry overtake Germany in the 1930’s, and political zealotry led by dictators in Latin America, southeast Asia and Africa.
In short, zealotry blinds the eyes, and threatens the safety and security of communities.
Thus, when God offered a pact of friendship with the aggressor, Pinchas, we are left with more questions than answers. Some commentators have tried to recast the episode celebrating Pinchas’ righteousness, or alignment with God. Others vilify and castigate him.
To me – I see warnings in zealous behavior, and prefer to preach a moderation and perspicacity.
Zealotry? Be careful!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn