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Lesson of Parshat “Pinchas” 5780 Why Were They Punished So Badly?

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Lesson of Parshat “Pinchas” 5780 Why Were They Punished So Badly? בס"ד "אין עוד מלבדו..." "ברוך פודה ומציל, ברוך שמו"!! "הללויה" "אין סוף תודות, לאין סוף ברוך הוא"!!! Issue 974 Candles lighting time: Shabbat ends: Latest Kriat Shema (M”A): Latest Kriat Shema (Gr”a): Mincha Gedola: Los Angeles: 19:44 Los Angeles: 20:50 Los Angeles: 8:39 Los Angeles: 9:24 Los Angeles: 13:34 New York: 20:06 New York: 21:17 New York: 8:24 New York: 9:17 New York: 13:38 London: 20:53 London: 22:25 London: 7:16 London: 9:00 London: 13:46 Lesson of Parshat “Pinchas” 5780 Why were they punished so badly? Pinchas the son of Elazar the son of Aaron the priest halakhic ruling) in front of his rabbi - is liable to death." received in his reward the crown of priesthood for him and (Eruvin 83a). all his later descendants until the end of all generations, In other words, since our Heavenly Father is very careful and also death had no hold over him and he entered the about the honor of the sages of Israel, it is forbidden for a Garden of Eden alive, for what he had merited and was the student to rule in the presence of his rabbi and teacher only one that stood up out of the entire Jewish nation and because it demonstrates a lack of courtesy, therefore out of pure defense for Hashem’s honor, he stabbed and Pinchas had to take permission. killed Zimri ben Saloo, the president of the tribe of To what extent? Shimon. (as a vengeance on the honor of Hashem that was In the Talmud (Tractate Me'ilah 17a), it is told: When the desecrated). kingdom of Rome decreed harsh decrees against the Our Father in Heaven testified in our holy Torah about Jewish people, the sages of Israel asked Rabbi Shimon Pinchas the son of Elazar, whose entire act was solely bar Yochai to journey to the kingdom and cancel the from jealousy for Hashem’s honor and without any personal decrees. Rabbi Shimon asked Rabbi Eleazar, the son of agenda. This is what is written in the verse: "by his Rabbi Yosi, to accompany him. Of course, Rabbi Elazar zealously avenging Me," and then it is written: "because he was very happy with the request of Rabbi Shimon bar was zealous for his G-d and atoned for the children of Yochai and immediately agreed to accompany him, but Israel.” his father, Rabbi Yosi, did not agree to that. Rabbi It is clear that this is all Pinchas's praises and virtue, whose Shimon bar Yochai asked Rabbi Yosi: "Why do you not only intention was to protest against the honor of Hashem you agree that your son will join me?" and Rabbi Yosi that was desecrated by Zimri ben Saloo, but if, G-d forbid, answered: “I am very frightened that my son will not he had any personal benefit, even if it was the smallest, he respect your honor properly, and he will be punished, would be punished, G-d forbid, as a murderer in every way, heaven forbid, for this." in this world and in the World to Come. "If this is your fear," Rabbi Shimon said to him, and Even though a great jealousy for Hashem’s honor burned in added: "I promise you that if he fails, I will not punish Pinchas's heart and he decided to protest for the honor of him!" And Rabbi Yosi immediately agreed to send his the Almighty and stab the sinner to death, he did not do so son with him. On the way, a Jew approached Rabbi before he came and got permission from Moshe Rabbeinu Shimon bar Yochai and asked to know the source for a A”h, saying: “Our Rabbi, you taught us, “Whoever sees a certain Halacha. Rabbi Elazar twisted his lips and Jew sinning with a Non-Jewish woman and the envy of G-d answered in a whisper ("so that he would not be ruling is burning in his heart, he is allowed to kill him." before his teacher" says Rashi) and said the source of Only after Moshe Rabbeinu agreed, only then did Pinchas that halacha. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai felt this and rise up and stab the sinner. said: "From the curve of your lips, it is clear that you are a The question arises: Why should Pinchas take permission wise scholar, for you knew how to answer, but since you from Moshe Rabbeinu? ruled an halacha before me, you will not merit to return to The answer is but one: "A person who teaches and rules your father's house!" FYI: This wonderful Torah newsletter is available in Hebrew, English and French. As we get your request at [email protected], we will email it to you and to anyone you see fit. Yishar Koach!!! בס"ד "אין עוד מלבדו..." "ברוך פודה ומציל, ברוך שמו"!! "הללויה" "אין סוף תודות, לאין סוף ברוך הוא"!!! Rabbi Elazar immediately fell ill with the severe paroxysm (Tosafot in the name of the Yerushalmi) and reached the gates of death, until suddenly Rabbi Shimon remembered his promise to his father, Rabbi Yosi, and immediately prayed for him and he recovered from his illness. My dear and beloved brothers and sisters! And now we ask: Why? Why such a harsh punishment? I see fit to copy from the words of our holy and pure Why is this offense so serious? We will answer this after Sages, from whom we live. If there is no repentance quoting the following terrible and shocking act, which is here, a warning is given. presented in the Gemara in Tractate Chagiga page 3b: The cautious and the careful will be bountiful as a river, Rabbi Yosi ben Dormskit went to visit Rabbi Eliezer. and the disdainful like a youth will be tormented and cry During his visit, Rabbi Eliezer asked Rabbi Yosi: "What from gate to gate and his death will not be his atonement, new Torah innovation have the scholars of the Beit Midrash because the Lord will burn the fire of his past. introduced today?" Rabbi Yosi answered and said: "So and so they taught." Rabbi Eliezer said to him, "Open your hands and accept your two eyes." That is, "You must die • "An absolutely wicked person, an adulterer and a lustful for the fact that you taught before me, but since I am sorry person is better than a man who embarrasses his fellow in for you, it is enough that both your eyes should come out, public and one who despises a Talmid Chacham he is named "an atheist" and his end is a disgrace to be and a blind man is considered a dead man”. Rabbi Yosi spread both his hands and immediately both uprooted from this world without repentance and remorse"!!! (Netiv Mitzvotecha, Shvil Hayichud 4). his eyes fell into them!! After a while, Rabbi Eliezer said: "It is enough for you to be blind for a short while, and now your eyes will return to their • "Blanching the face of his friend, reneges the belief that place." Immediately his eyes returned to their proper place. man was created in the image of God"!!! (Tiferet The Maharsha asked: "Why was Rabbi Yosi punished? all Yisrael Avot III, para. 72) he did was answer Rabbi Eliezer's question: "What new "Doing this shows that he does not believe in the holiness Torah innovation have the scholars of the Beit Midrash of man created in the image of God"!!! (Yalkut Meam introduced today?" Lo'ez, Avot p.133). And the Maharsha explains: "Nevertheless, Rabbi Yosi should have said, "We are your disciples," and then add: • "And this transgression of blanching a person face is more "And so and so did they teach." severe than a murderer, because a murderer kills Answer: Our Father in Heaven is very careful about the instantly and only once, but the blancher kills him a little at honor of Torah scholars, and the great Gaon Rabbi Chaim a time ... Moreover: whenever he meets people who were Kanievsky shlit'a wrote in his book "Orchot Yosher" present when he was insulted, he is embarrassed again chapter 16: "We have not seen any similar observance and his blood again spills within his body, therefore he in any matter." And so they say: Anybody who contradicts murders him several times"!!! (Midrash Eliyahu). his Rabbi, it is if he contradicts the Divine Presence (Sanhedrin 110a), and whoever disputes his Rabbi and • It is also said: The misery of blanching is more bitter teacher, as if he disputed about the Shechinah," and any then death!! (Sharei Teshivah 3, 139). person who is scornful towards a Torah scholar there will be no remedy for his illness (Shabbat 119a), and • King David said before the Hakadosh Baruch Hu: even if the rabbi forgives him for not being honored "Sovereign of the world!! It is revealed and known to properly, the Holy One, Blessed is He, demands the you... when they would say to me: "David! One who rabbi's insult (Berachot 19a). Since the honor of the rabbi commits adultery, what is his punishment?” I say to them: is compared to the honor of G-d and any person who is a "His death is by strangulation and he has a portion in the heretic towards G-d has no part in the world to come, next world, but one who blanches the face of his fellow therefore Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and Rabbi Eliezer man in public, has no portion in the next world"! (Baba preferred to punish their students in this world, so they will Metziah 58b).
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