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July 31, 2010   20 Av 5770
Rabbi's Weekly Shabbat Shalom  

Shabbat Shalom with a Side of Torah – Pinkhas

Our tradition is filled with stories of great sages. Some of these stories appear in the Biblical text. We know about the dispute between Moses and Pharaoh, of Deborah’s defeat of the great General Sisera, or Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Ba-al from the words of the Bible. Other stories come from stories that teach lessons spread over centuries of education. From this body of midrash, we know the stories wherein Abraham smashes the idols, where Moses ends up in Rabbi Akiva’s study, or where the Ba-al Shem Tov battles the Devil (really interesting given that Jews don’t believe in the devil).

Some of these stories aggrandize our leaders, while others give us perspective about leadership. The above stories tell us of the merits of the people to whom we look for answers. Many such stories teach us more about leadership and about our roles in community, than about any individual in the story itself. One of my favorite of the sages, Rabbi Joshua usually appears in this latter type of teaching. One of my favorite such midrashim deals with the kosher status of an oven, the oven of Aknai. He is the protagonist of the commentary, but it is really not about him. The midrash teaches us that God answers to many voices, not just one. A similar story tells of his pre-mature visit to his portion in Gan Eden (the world of peace to come). In the Talmud we read that Elijah the prophet was giving him the tour, shouting to all in the way, that they should clear a path for the great sage. As they made their way through the garden, they came across another great scholar, the famous student of Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Shimon bar Yokhai. Rabbi Shimon bar Yokhai immediately challenged Rabbi Joshua, asking him whether or not he was really a great sage. He asked if there ever appeared a rainbow during Joshua’s life. If there had been one, he continued then Rabbi Joshua could not have been as great as was his potential. There is a tradition that rainbows only need appear when there is not someone righteous enough to hold up the entire world. The promise to Noah was that it would appear to remind God that there was not perfection in the world. Where it was not needed, it would not appear. Rabbi Joshua was to be one of the greatest of rabbis, but alas, he had known rainbows to exist. In fact, there are rainbows in every generation.

At the end of last week’s Torah portion, Pinkhas (Phineas in English) takes it upon himself to fix the world. He impales a Simeon prince and Midianite princess for associating with each other. He is a priest that acts in a way that even Moses and Aaron (his father) acted. There are commentators throughout time who have heralded his bravery and his passion in honoring what he perceived to be God’s command not to associate with the enemy. The text goes on to say that in response, God promised Pinkhas a legacy of peace. Some maintain that this is a blessing. I think of it more as a warning. It is odd that we would celebrate this and denounce Moses and Aaron as having failed. Turning our enemy to our friend is the greater good. Handling even matters of transgression in civil ways is the greater good. But Pinkhas, seeing the two people together did not investigate, and did not ask questions – he just attacked them, taking their lives. God’s promise of peace is an admission that something went wrong. In the same sense that the rainbow is a reminder of our imperfection, this promise is a reminder, as well.

How many of us act first and ask questions later – or never ask questions, at all. Are we not charged – all of us -- with creating a world that makes sense for all of us? It is not the Pinkhas’ of the world that will bring healing. It cannot be the person who believes that he has all the answers. I am sure that Pinkhas knew rainbows, as well. Rather, what we learn from this text – and the story of Rabbi Joshua is that this work is for all of us, not some of us. We take from this the reminder that no one person can fix the world. Even in religions where a messianic figure is believed to exist, that figure still needs the world’s participation and faith to accomplish the great task of healing the world. Not one of us is that strong, nor can anyone sit back and rely on someone else to do the work for us. Our tradition teaches that while none of us are expected to accomplish the task, none of us are allowed to not work toward its completion. I look forward to the time and energy we can share along the path of making this real. Shabbat Shalom.


Did you miss reading a Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Kline? Click one of the Parsha links below for his inspirational message. The documents are available with Abobe Reader.

5770

Genesis
10/16/2009 Braesheet
10/23/2009 Noah
10/30/2009 Lekh l'kha
11/6/2009 Vayaera
11/13/2009 Khayae Sarah
11/20/2009 Toldot
11/27/2009 Vayaetzae
12/4/2009 Vayishlakh
12/11/2009 Vayaeshev
12/18/2009 Mikaetz
12/26/2009 Vayigash
Exodus
1/8/2010 Shemot
1/15/2010 Va'aera
1/22/2010 Bo
1/29/2010 Bechallakh
2/5/2010 Yitro
2/12/2010 Mishpatim
2/19/2010 Terumah
2/26/2010 Tetzvah
3/4/2010 Ki Tissa
3/12/2010 Vayakhel-Pekudei
Leviticus
3/19/2010 Vayikra
3/26/2010 Tzav
4/2/2010 Shabbat Pesakh
4/9/2010 Shmini
4/16/2010 Tazria-Metzora
4/23/2010 Kedoshim
5/7/2010 Behar-Bekhukotai
Numbers
5/14/2010 Bamidbar
5/21/2010 Naso
5/28/2010 B'ha-alotekha
6/4/2010 Shelakh
6/11/2010 Korakh
6/18/10 Khukat
6/25/10 Balak
7/2/10 Pinkhas
Deuteronomy

5769

Genesis
10/24/2008 B'reishit
10/31/2008 Noah
11/7/2008 Lech L'cha
11/14/2008 Vayeira
11/21/2008 Chayei Sarah
11/28/2008 Toldot
12/5/2008 Vayetzei
12/12/2008 Vayishlach
12/19/2008 Vayeshev
12/26/2008 Miketz
1/2/2009 Vayigash
1/9/2009 Vayechi
Exodus
1/16/2009 Sh'mot
1/23/2009 Va-eira
1/30/2009 Bo
2/6/2009 B'shalach
2/13/2009 Yitro
2/20/2009 Mishpatim
2/27/2009 T'rumah
3/6/2009 Tetzaveh
3/13/2009 Ki Tissa
3/20/2009 Vayakhel
3/20/2009 P'kudei
Leviticus
3/27/09 Vayikra
4/3/09 Tzav
4/10/09 Pesach
4/17/09 Sh'mini
4/24/09 Tazria/M'tzora
5/1/09 K'doshim
5/8/09 Emor
B'har
B'chukotai
Numbers
5/22/09 B'midbar
5/29/09 Naso
6/5/09 Naso "Redux"
6/12/09 B'haalot'cha
Sh'lach L'cha
6/19/09 Korach
6/26/09 Korach Pt II
7/3/09 Chukat - Balak
7/10/09 Pinchas
7/17/09 Matot & Mas'ei RH
Deuteronomy
7/24/09 D'varim
7/31/09 Va'et-chanan
8/7/2009 Aekev
8/14/2009 Re'eh
8/21/2009 Shoftim
8/28/09 Ki Teitzei
9/4/09 Ki Tavo
9/11/09 Nitzavim/Vayaelekh
Ha'azinu
Chol HaMoeid
Sukkot
B'reishit

5768

Genesis
10/5/2007 B'reishit
10/12/2007 Noach
10/19/2007 Lech L'cha
10/26/2007 Vayeira
11/2/2007 Chayei Sarah
11/9/2007 Toldot
11/16/2007 Vayetzei
11/23/2007 Vayishlach
11/30/2007 Vayeshev
12/7/2007 Miketz
12/14/2007 Vayigash
12/21/2007 Vayechi
Exodus
12/28/2007 Sh'mot
1/4/2008 Va-eira
1/11/2008 Bo
1/18/2008 B'shalach
1/25/2008 Yitro
2/1/2008 Mishpatim
2/8/2008 T'rumah
2/15/2008 T'tzaveh
2/22/2008 Ki Tisa
2/29/2008 Vayakhel
3/7/2008 P'kudei
Leviticus
3/14/2008 Vayikra
3/21/2008 Tzav
3/28/2008 Sh'mini
4/4/2008 Tazria
4/11/2008 M'tzora
4/18/2008 Acharei Mot
Erev Pesach
4/25/2008 Pesach
5/2/2008 K'doshim
5/9/2008 Emor
5/16/2008 B'har
5/23/2008 B'chukotai
Numbers
5/30/2008 B'midbar
6/6/2008 Naso
6/13/2008 B'haalot'cha
6/20/2008 Sh'lach L'cha
6/27/2008 Korach
7/4/2008 Chukat
7/11/2008 Balak
7/18/2008 Pinchas
7/25/2008 Matot
8/1/2008 Mas'ei RH
Deuteronomy
8/8/2008 D'varim
8/15/2008 Va'et-chanan
8/22/2008 Eikev
8/29/2008 Re'eih
9/5/2008 Shoftim
9/12/2008 Ki Teitzei
9/19/2008 Ki Tavo
9/26/2008 Nitzavim
10/3/2008 Vayeilech
10/10/2008 Ha'azinu
10/17/2008 Chol HaMoeid
Sukkot
10/24/2008 B'reishit

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