 JULY 9 • 2020 | 25

P

inchas, the hero of this 
week’
s portion, was 
singled out because “he 
was zealous for his God.
” An 
Israelite prince, Zimri, had 
done a scandalous thing.
The encamped men were 
being seduced into hea-
then worship and cor-
ruption through asso-
ciating with the women 
of the land. Zimri 
openly and flagrantly 
brought a Midianite 
woman into his tent.
Pinchas, a priest and, 
therefore, a man of 
peace, was filled with 
indignation, seized a 
spear and inflicted the 
punishment of death 
upon the offender and 
his partner.
Today, many of us have a 
different outlook on Pinchas’
 
actions. Rather than applaud 
him, we are more inclined to 
criticize. We feel that his violent 
act conflicts with today’
s moral 
standards. I feel that we must 
look less at the act and more 
at the motivation of the man. 
Pinchas was filled with kinah, 
zeal. He boils inwardly and is 
filled with passion for a cause.
However, like any great force 
or energy, zeal can be danger-
ous; directing the passion and 
its subsequent acts must be 
tempered with sensibility. Our 
history is replete with tragic 
expressions of fanaticism in 
oppression and intolerance, 
resulting in destruction and 
desecration.
Today we are experiencing 
protests and marches aimed to 
direct our attention to the need 
for mindfulness of inequality in 
our midst. The cause is being 
clouded by zealots who, taking 
advantage of crowd situations, 
are digressing from the main 
intent and taking opportunities 
to loot, destroy, desecrate and 
commit many violent acts. 

These “zealots” are fanatics, as 
opposed to those who act with 
zeal to promote acts of self-
lessness, of commitment of the 
need for peaceful existence.
Our zeal should be directed 
toward eradicating the divisive-
ness of the situation. We 
must continue to demand 
justice for all citizens 
and remain committed 
to fighting the discord 
that leads to violent and 
destructive acts.
The opposite of zeal is 
indifference and detach-
ment. The dangers we 
face today are from 
uncommitted hearts; 
we cannot, in good 
conscience, distance 
ourselves and proclaim 
non-involvement. We 
cannot remain detached when 
we witness the destruction of 
communities and clouding of 
issues.
We must zealously find 
ways to be heard and be seen 
to bring attention to problems 
that involve us all and which 
demand that we stay active in 
our commitment to unity.
In the eyes of the sages, 
Pinchas’
 deeds were unaccept-
able. We must, however, con-
sider his zeal and commitment 
to be of heroic proportions and 
worthy of emulation.
A great part of Jewish life 
means making commitments 
to the community. We dare not 
be detached and indifferent. 
We must remain zealous in our 
commitment to the betterment 
of all people in just causes. 

Sy Manello is editorial assistant of 
the Jewish News.

Parshat 

Pinchas: 

Numbers 

25:10-30:1;

I Kings

18:46-19:21.

Sy Manello

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