Family Parshah
Pinchas Q & A

Pinchas, son of Elazar, son of Aharon the Kohen. (25:11)

Question: The commentator Rashi writes, "The tribes were mocking him, 'This grandson of someone who fattened calves to be sacrificed to idols killed a Prince in Israel.' Therefore, the Torah draws his lineage to Aharon." Through his other grandfather, doesn't he remain the descendant of an idolater, so that the mockery still stands?

Answer: Children inherit many of the characteristic traits of their parents and ancestors. According to the Talmud1 the Jewish people are known to be merciful, bashful and kind-hearted. On the other hand, many gentiles are vengeful, arrogant, and cruel. The people observing the vengeance with which Pinchas killed Zimri the son of Salu, the Prince of the tribe of Shimon, began to accuse him of being a wanton murder and attributed it to his descent from a family whose grandfather was a non-Jew who fattened calves to be sacrificed to idols.

In order to dispel this notion, the Torah traces his lineage to his other grandfather, Aharon, who was known to be a lover and pursuer of peace so that Pinchas would be applauded for his brave act on G-d's behalf of punishing one who practiced rampant immorality.

Our father died in the wilderness and was not ... in the assembly of Korach, but he died for his own sin and he had no sons. (27:3)

Question: Their question was whether they inherit their father's share in Eretz Yisrael. Why was it necessary to mention the cause of his death?

Answer: According to Jewish law, when someone is sentenced to death for rebelling against the jurisdiction of a king his assets become government property. If he is executed for simply violating a law, then his assets remain with his family.2

The daughters of Tzelafchad were very wise3 and therefore they intentionally preceded their question with the fact that their father died for his own sin and was not affiliated with Korach. Since Moshe was a king,4 should Tzelafchad have died for being a member of Korach's group who rebelled against Moshe, he would have then been considered a "rebel against the king," and they would have lost all claims to his inheritance.

Who shall go out before them and come in before them... and let the assembly of G-d not be like sheep that have no shepherd. (27:17)

Question: Why is it necessary to give the analogy of sheep without a shepherd? Suffice it to say, "The congregation will have a shepherd."

Answer: When a shepherd takes his sheep to pasture, the sheep run ahead and he walks behind them with a stick. He does this to keep the herd together and so that if they are attacked, it will be easier for him to flee and save his own life. Thus, a herd of sheep in the pasture can appear to lack a shepherd.

Moshe prayed to G-d to appoint a leader for the Jewish people, one who would not walk behind them and keep a low profile, but one who would take the initiative and give direction, a leader, in short, who would always be a trailblazer for the people to follow.

The eighth day shall be a restriction for you. (29:35)

Question: After celebrating the holiday of Sukkot for eight days, G-d added an eighth day because "your going away (lit. 'separation') is difficult for me."5

It should have said "Our parting is difficult for me"?

Answer: On a holiday people are relaxed, in good spirits and in harmony one with another. When Jews are united and live in peace, G-d takes delight in His people. During the week, however, when people are involved in the hustle of their day-to-day life, they often come into conflict.

After observing the Jewish people celebrating eight days of harmonious living, G-d added another day saying: "Your going separation is difficult for me -- It is difficult for me to see the separation and disunity among you when you are busy with your weekday business. Therefore, let us have one more day of holiday."