Channels Torah Classes Letters and Numbers of Torah

Pinchas and the Covenant of Peace

Letters and Numbers of Torah - Pinchas

Autoplay Next

Pinchas and the Covenant of Peace: Letters and Numbers of Torah - Pinchas

"Pinchas...has turned My anger away from the children of Israel by his zealously avenging Me... therefore I hereby give him My covenant of peace." (Numbers 25:11-12) In this verse, the letter 'vav' of the word 'shalom' (peace) is written like two separate letters, a 'yud' above and a small 'vav' below. What does this teach us about how to make true peace?

Topics:

Three Weeks, Peace, Yud, Vav, Phinehas, Pinchas, Parshah

Aaron L. Raskin

Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin is the official Chabad emissary to downtown Brooklyn, rabbi of Congregation B’nai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights, New York and Dean of Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy. He is the author of the books “Thank You God for Making Me a Woman", "Letters of Light", "By Divine Design", and "Guardian of Israel", and the co-author of "The Rabbi & The CEO".

Join the Discussion

Sort By:

NewestOldest

9 Comments

Esther July 11, 2017

thanks for the class. will give over. Reply

Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin Brooklyn, NY July 16, 2012

It is a crime Dear Zebra,
The Talmud tells us that when the Jews were given the laws of chastity they cried.
To paraphrase: the Jews said we're willing to fast on Yom Kippur, eat matzoh for seven days, not turn on the lights 25 hours every shabbos, pray three times a day, give 10% of our earnings to tzedakah, but please don't infringe on our carnal pleasures.
Being Jewish means being chosen by G-d as a holy nation. Holy means to separate oneself from what other people do.
For a Jew, not only is it a crime to sleep with someone from another nation, it's also a crime to sleep with someone from their own nation if its out of wedlock. And even with ones spouse only certain days of the month and only after immersion into the mikvah.
Furthermore the Talmud states that there are three people in a relationship: man, woman and G-d. In other words when a Jew sleeps with a non-Jew he is bringing G-d into a relationship where G-d refuses to be entangled in. Being holy demands restraint, but it's worth it. Reply

Dn Mankato, MN July 14, 2012

True Shalom Zebra,
If you are wondering what it is all about, you did not hear any part of Rabbi Raskin's teaching. This has to be one of the best teachings I have heard!

HaShem only opens the eyes of those who want them to be open to His Words.

Baruch HaShem! Reply

Zebra NY via chabadslc.com July 13, 2012

A little extreme don't you think? Its hardly a crime to sleep with someone who is from a different religion! And 24,000 deaths due to this? Really makes you wonder what IT's ALL about. Reply

Leah Lapidus Cleveland, oh July 13, 2012

thank you thank you - amazing story about the Rebbe- wonderful lecture - love to listen, B"H, thank you. Reply

Anonymous Nairobi, Kenya July 12, 2012

Thanks I appreciate Rabbi because you are well prepared the lesson which we thought. Reply

Ester Tarnogol Buenos Aires, Argentina July 12, 2012

Pinchas and the Covenant of Peace Thank you Rabbi, this is a wonderful lesson, every word that you said was a teaching, and the SHALOM BAYIT matter as it was explain put a big light on it,
G-d bless you and your family, Reply

Irene Glen Burnie, MD USA July 11, 2012

Pinchas and the Covenant of Peace Thank you Rabbi, this was an awesome teaching which I enjoyed very much.

May all the blessings that G-d has for you be upon you and your family. Reply

Henya bas chaya Rivker Leah montreal July 11, 2012

Thank you I really enjoyed this,loads of Hatzlacha!!! Reply

Letters and Numbers of Torah

Rabbi Raskin looks at the hidden meanings of the sizes and numerical values (gematria) of the Hebrew letters in the weekly Torah portion.

Pinchas and the Covenant of Peace: Letters and Numbers of Torah - Pinchas

More in this section

You may also be interested in...

Join the Discussion