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747_B_Beis Moshiach 28/06/2010 8:34 AM Page 3 contents TOUCHING THE CORE 4 D’var Malchus | Sichos In English MOSHIACH: IT’S GOTTA BE PERSONAL 6 Thought | Rabbi Zvi Homnick MESHUGE, MESHUGE BUT YOU’VE GOT 10 TO HAVE SECHEL! Moshiach & Geula | Rabbi Chaim Ahkenazi a”h ‘DUBRAWSKI CAN BE RELIED UPON’ 14 Obituary | Avrohom Rainitz WAS THAT AN EARTHQUAKE 24 USA OR A TRAIN? 744 Eastern Parkway Moshiach & Science | Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd, PhD Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 I FEEL THE REBBE’S HANDS [email protected] 28 Feature | Nosson Avrohom www.beismoshiach.org EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: RISHON L’TZIYON: RABBI MORDECHAI Boruch Merkur HEBREW EDITOR: 36 ELIYAHU ZT”L Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan Feature | Shneur Zalman Levin [email protected] Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish holidays (only once in April and October) for $160.00 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and in all other places for $180.00 per year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2010 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 747_B_Beis Moshiach 28/06/2010 8:34 AM Page 4 d’var malchus Our Sages relate [5] that when a Jewish man is cohabitating with a non-Jewish woman, “the zealous TOUCHING have [the right [6] to] strike him.” Nevertheless, “although this is the law, a ruling is not delivered.” If a person were to ask a Jewish court if he should kill a person THE CORE who commits such an act, the court should not instruct him to do so. Thus not only did Pinchas risk Sichos In English his life, he did so even when there was no obligation. If he had let the situation pass, This is zealousness: putting one’s own nobody would have criticized him. On the contrary, he had to take welfare - both spiritual and material - the initiative himself, and he aroused criticism by taking the on the side, and making an unbounded step he did. commitment to carry out G-d’s will. Our Sages state [7] that he acted against the sages’ desires, and that had not G-d praised him CAN PRIESTHOOD definition of priesthood. as quoted above, they would have BE A REWARD? Since Pinchas was not a priest placed him under a ban of beforehand, how could his ostracism. [8] This week’s Torah reading conduct, however virtuous, earn What motivated Pinchas? begins: [1] “Pinchas, the son of him that distinction? He wanted to “turn [G-d’s] Elazar... turned My wrath away wrath away from the children of from the children of Israel by UNBOUNDED SERVICE Israel.” zealously taking up My cause He understood what had to be among them.... Therefore,... I EVOKES AN done to accomplish this goal, and have granted him a covenant of UNBOUNDED RESPONSE was willing to undertake any risks peace. He and his descendants will The resolution of this question involved. possess an eternal covenant of revolves on the understanding of This is zealousness: putting priesthood, because he zealously the trait for which the Torah one’s own welfare - both spiritual acted on behalf of his G-d.” praises Pinchas: zealousness. [9] and material - on the side, and The question arises: Pinchas’ Why does the Torah describe making an unbounded deed, the execution of Zimri as Pinchas with this term? commitment to carry out G-d’s described in the conclusion of last Firstly, Pinchas risked his life. will. week’s Torah reading, [2] involved Although Zimri was supported And when a person makes a self-sacrifice and courage. by his entire tribe, and they could genuine commitment of this Certainly, it is worthy of praise have easily killed Pinchas, [4] nature, the inner G-dly spark and reward. Nevertheless, it is Pinchas did not consider the which every on e of us possesses is problematic that Pinchas was danger he faced at all. given expression. granted “a covenant of eternal What concerned him was the Similarly, such an approach priesthood,” as a reward. spiritual danger facing the Jewish evokes an unbounded response For priesthood cannot be people and he was willing to from G-d. attained through man’s endeavors; sacrifice his life to eliminate the For when man goes beyond his it is not at all dependent on our hazard confronting them. natural limits in his Divine spiritual accomplishments. There was, moreover, a deeper service, G-d grants him rewards As Rashi comments, [3] just as dimension to Pinchas’ that are not confined within the one cannot change morning into commitment. limits of nature. For this reason, evening, one cannot alter the 4 20 Tammuz 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH 747_B_Beis Moshiach 28/06/2010 8:34 AM Page 5 Pinchas could be granted the TAKING INITIATIVE NOTES: status of a priest. These two thrusts - 1. Numbers 25:11-13. zealousness and peace - are of 2. Numbers 25:1-9. TEMPERING fundamental relevance at present. 3. In his commentary to Numbers Many of our people live ZEALOUSNESS WITH 16:5. LOVE estranged from their Jewish roots, and our national future depends 4. Indeed, our Sages (Sanhedrin Our Sages identified Pinchas on zealous commitment to 82b) relate that it was only because six miracles occurred that they did with Eliyahu. [10] maintaining our heritage. not kill him. Eliyahu’s Divine service was For it is the inner conviction that also characterized by zealousness, stems from the spark of G-dliness 5. Sanhedrin 82a. as it is written: [11] “I have been we all possess which will make an 6. I.e., he is not obligated to do so, very zealous for the sake of G-d, impression on others. he is merely given license to do so. the L-rd of Hosts.” Intellectual arguments cannot Therefore, the Shulchan Aruch does When making this statement, penetrate to the core of another not mention an obligation for a however, Eliyahu contrasted his person’s heart. zealous person to strike a man who own conduct with that of the The heart opens to the heart, engages in intimate relations with a gentile woman, it merely mentions Jewish people at large whom he and it is zealous commitment, as criticized for “forsaking [G-d’s] (Even HaEzer 16:2) that one has tempered by warmth and loving such a right. covenant.” outreach, which will spur others to G-d refused to accept these discover the Jewish spark within 7. Jerusalem Talmud, Sanhedrin 9:7. words of criticism. their own being. [16] 8. Sanhedrin 82a. He appointed Eliyahu as “the There is a further dimension to angel of the covenant” [12] and 9. In this light, we find numerous Pinchas’ zealousness. stories of tzaddikim who were willing charged him with attending the Pinchas was not the leader of to sacrifice their portion in the World circumcisions of the Jewish people the Jewish people. to Come for the benefit of another for all time to come, so that he Moshe, Elazar, and the elders Jew. would attest to their faithful occupied higher positions of 10. Targum Yonason, Exodus 6:18; adherence to G-d’s covenant. [13] authority. Yalkut Shimoni, vol. I, sec. 671; G-d taught Eliyahu that his When, however, the need Zohar II, 190b. zealousness must be tempered arose, Pinchas did not wait for the 11. I Kings 19:10. with ahavas Yisroel, love for every leaders’ guidance, he took the member of our people, and that he initiative himself. 12. Malachi 3:1; Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer end of ch. 29. must endeavor to seek out our The same applies with regard people’s virtues. to every individual today, for every 13. Yalkut Shimoni, vol. I, sec. 71. These traits became such an one of us has a unique 14. Malachi 3:24. integral part of Eliyahu’s personal contribution which he himself can mission that when the prophet 15. Mishneh Torah, Hilchos make. Melachim 12:2. Malachi describes Eliyahu’s return With the confidence that comes to announce the coming of the from the truth of one’s inner 16. Figuratively speaking, a parallel Redemption, he states [14] that conviction, we must all take the can be drawn to the story of Pinchas. The widespread assimilation of the Eliyahu will “turn the hearts of the initiative and spread good and fathers to the children, and the present age can be compared to the peace. plague which killed thousands of the hearts of the children to the These efforts will hasten the fathers.” Jewish people. Pinchas’ zealousness coming of the time when Eliyahu - which stopped the plague can, as And when the Rambam identified with Pinchas - will above, be considered an analogy to describes [15] Eliyahu’s mission, come. And then, “the voice of the the heartfelt dedication to our Jewish he states that “he will come solely herald will announce good heritage which will turn this tide. to establish peace.” tidings,” [17] the coming of 17. Cf. Siddur T’hillas Hashem, p. To emphasize this direction from Moshiach, and the redemption of 334. the outset, G-d tells Pinchas that in our people and all mankind. reward for his zealousness, he is Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. II, p. being given “a covenant of peace.” 344ff, 609ff; Vol. IV, p. 1070ff; Vol. XVIII, p. BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 747 5 747_B_Beis Moshiach 28/06/2010 8:34 AM Page 6 thought MOSHIACH: ITS GOTTA BE PERSONAL By Rabbi Zvi Homnick profound way, is a conversation that As much as the exile and all its negative I had with a certain learned implications have to be felt and individual during a period when I was unsure as to which way I would experienced as a truly personal matter, go.