Parshas Pinchos 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
בקנאו את קנאתי בתוכם ולא כליתי את בני ישראל בקנאתי ... (כה-יא)
In sefer Toras Moshe the Chasam Sofer offers an explanation as to why the Torah uses the word "בקנאו" which seems superfluous, based on the Chovos Halevavos. He mentions the following story and its takeaway lesson. There was a sinner, who at one point, repented. He was zoche to do a teshuva shleima. When asked what prompted this sudden change, he responded, “I came to the realization that if I were to take all the efforts, passion, and zeal that I utilize for my aveiros and channel them instead, towards mitzvos then surely I’ll be able to reach high levels.” That was the impetus for my makeover.
Explains the חתם סופר, when Pinchos saw what transpired "בתוכם", the fervor with which Zimri sinned, he decided to use the same level of קנאות for the sake of Hashem. R’ Chaim Kaufman zt”l quotes from sefer Har Sinai who further explains that in light of this, we can understand why the Torah wrote "בקנאו את קנאתי" and not "בנקמו את נקמתי" because Pinchos was “jealous” of Zimri’s enthusiasm and replicated it; but he used it לש"ש. This concept, says the Chofetz Chaim, is a well-known posuk in Tehillim מאויבי תחכמני. He explains that from the ways of my enemies I gleaned wisdom how to better serve Hashem.
On that note perhaps we can apply this to what’s going on today. In last week’s parsha the posuk says "מה טבו אהליך יעקב". Bilam seeked to blaspheme the source of our strength - our תפילה and learning. מאויבי תחכמני - we must realize how potent and precious they are. In ארץ ישראל there’s a terrible calamity taking place! Our own people are seeking to eradicate our ruchniyus - our limud haTorah! Don’t they understand that our survival is dependent on our bnei Torah not the soldiers. Do we? We must learn from their קנאות and fight it with our entire essence as if our lives depend on it - because it does!
Let us support them and daven for the continuity of כלל ישראל at this critical juncture. Let us follow in the ways of Pinchos בקנאו את קנאתי - and iy”H be zoche to the fruition of הנני נותן לו את בריתי שלום.