>> Torah portion Do You "Do Torah?" Parshat Pinchas: Numbers 25:10-30:1; 1 Kings 18:46-19:21. S omeone recently asked me if I "Do Torah?" In other words, as the rabbi of the Birmingham Temple, do I read and worship the Torah? Well, the answer is "Yes" and "No." And this week's Torah portion is the perfect way to explain. Travel with me into the book of Numbers. Pinchas, grandson of Aaron, the high priest, witnesses a Jewish prince "consorting" with a gentile princess. We are told that Moses and Aaron weep at the sight. In a moment of rage, Pinchas lunges forward and spears them both, murdering them in an act of impulsive violence. As a result of the murder, Pinchas is considered a hero, receives priestly status, and we read that the Israelites are saved in the eyes of God who is so happy with Pinchas that he forgives their collective sins. Here is an excerpt: "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying ... 'I hereby give my Covenant of peace ... because he [Pinchas] was zealous for his God and atoned for children of Israel. The name of the Israelite man who was killed, who was slain with the Midianite woman was Zimri, and the name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi ... Distress the Midianites, and you shall smite them ...'" Many rabbis praise Pinchas. They cite him as the one who boldly acts when others cower. They go further to state that he stands against inter- marriage and does what no one else has the bravery to do. Just look up Pinchas and read the Torah com- mentary yourself. He is referred to as a leader amongst his people, a great warrior and a man of action who takes a bold stand against inti- mate relationships between Jews and non-Jews. I could not disagree more. Pinchas is not a great man. He is not a hero. And he would not be someone whom I would look to for spiritual guidance. Furthermore, if I were attorney general, I would pros- ecute him for murder. The Torah is a precious, remark- able clue book. It is the greatest repository for the ancient Jewish experience that we will ever have. It is the single most important collec- tion of books in Western civilization. It is the centerpiece at the dining room table where we, in Western civiliza- tion, have sat for the past 2,000 years to dialogue about what it means to be a human being. But, it is also a book of violent sto- ries that are too horrible to pray to, let alone school my children in. Almost every night, I snuggle my daughter to sleep. I wrap her little body in my arms, and she places her head on my mother-heart. Against the advice of all the good doctors and sleep experts, she falls asleep in my arms even now that she is 7 years old. There is this moment when the energy in the room shifts. I can hear her breath deepen and lengthen as she drifts into the land of dreams. In that moment, I wish for her what every mother and father have wished for their children since the beginning of time: Sweet dreams. When will we as a species begin to dream a new dream? When will we end our wars without and within? When will lovers be able to love even as they are from different tribes, of different ways and different faces? I want real heroes — women and men who will do anything for peace. I revere people who throw down the gauntlet and leave no stone unturned in their quest for resolu- tion. I do not admire zealots and fundamentalists, even if they are in the Torah. So do I "Do Torah?" Well yes and no. If what you mean by Torah is, "The entire body of Jewish and life learning:' then I most certainly do Torah. If, on the other hand, "Doing Torah" means worshipping the words on the scroll as infallible and uphold- ing its heroes as my heroes, then, "No, I do not do Torah:' Do you? ❑ DRINK\ KEN LETTUCE WRAPS ASIAN STREET TACOS EASTWOOD TOWN CENTER 1517.267.3833 FAIRLANE TOWN CENTER I 313.429.2030 6 MILE & HAGGERTY ROAD 248.675.0066 SOMERSET COLLECTION SOUTH I 248.816.8000 THE MALL AT PARTRIDGE CREEK 586.263.0860 PFCHANGSHAPPYHOl iR.CON,1 1732750 Freedom for Your Pet, Peace of Mind for You We help pets and their owners live happy, harmonious lives together. 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