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Parshah Insight: Pinchas

By J. Immanuel Schochet

About the Speaker

J. Immanuel Schochet
Rabbi Immanuel Schochet has written and lectured extensively on the history and philosophy of Chassidism and topical themes of Jewish thought and ethics. He is a renowned authority on Jewish Philosophy and Mysticism. He is rabbi of Cong. Beth Joseph, and professor-emeritus of Philosophy at Humber College, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

By J. Immanuel Schochet More articles... |

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:

Posted: July 21, 2011

Re Zimri

Some thoughts.

It may well be that that Zimri had his people's interest in mind, and that his intention was to excuse those who had sinned. (What Was Zimri Thinking? provides a wonderful insight into that.) However, it is G-d Himself who lauded Pinchas, thus confirming that Zimri had acted wrongly. For sin, however lofty the intention, is just plain wrong. As the old saying goes, "two wrongs do not make a right."

Posted By Rabbi Menachem Posner

Posted: July 16, 2011

Zimri-Pinchas Flo July 13, 2011

I agree with you. Ziimri is lambasted by the vast majority of rabbis. To me Zimri is the hero in the parsha. He anticipated his demise. He was the leader of those who were coupling with the non-Jewish women. Zimri knew that they were sinning. So he went out and in public view and had intimate relations with the non-Jewish woman. This is an act of Mesiret Nefesh, sacrifice to Hashem, the highest degree of devotion to G-d.

Pinches gets the rabbis praise. Zimri gets mine. Without Zimri's act of faith, Pichas receives no honour.

Good call Flo.

Posted By Anonymous

Posted: July 13, 2011

Pinchas

Pinchas is a hero well rewarded. But Zimri made the sacrifice of his life. How could Zimri not know the outcome of his impulsive behavior? Seems that he too was a hero in his death. The Plague ended. Many people were spared. And yet he is seen as committing an evil act. What is that about?

Posted By Florence, Mdfd, OR

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	Parshah Insight: Pinchas
A five minute weekly Torah insight based on the wellsprings of Torah and Chassidut.
Topics: Parshah (1366), Pinchas (18)