Rabbi's Blog

Chaza”l taught “Eretz Yisrael Niknin B’Yisurin”, the land of Israel is acquired through hardship. This concept has evolved over centuries and can be seen even in today’s day and age. Everything in life is relative therefore the degree of difficulty in the realm of the land of Israel varies greatly from even one hundred years ago until today how much more so from thousands of years ago. Never the less any time we find a challenge in either moving or visiting Eretz Yisrael we are met with challenges and it becomes a subtle reminder that it doesn’t always come easy.

I am sitting in Yerushalayim thinking about my trip getting here. I left beautiful sunny San Diego on Monday morning and connected to a flight from Newark that would take me to Israel. Due to inclement weather and some mechanical issues my original flight from Newark due to leave at ten-thirty at night was finally cancelled at three thirty in the morning. It took approximately three hours to re-book passengers with different options, I personally transferred to a Delta flight from JFK and delayed coming to Israel by about eighteen hours. It was a difficult night for many of the elderly passengers, families with small children and foreigners in a strange land. For me personally it was a relatively small inconvenience, perhaps a little reminder not to take Eretz Yisrael for granted. But overall there was something that stood out but didn’t necessarily shock me, that was the relative calm and respect everyone had for the personnel of the airline that had to deal with some angry and upset passengers. Sure there was murmuring amongst the Jews themselves but all approached the gentile employees with respect, dignity and in a peaceful manner.

The experience in Newark was a subtle reminder of who we are a Jews, but was magnified later that day at JFK airport. Due to weather delays and FAA regulations related to pilots and crews time limitations other flights were cancelled. I passed a gate where they had just announced a cancellation. I couldn’t believe it but there was a riot that was about to erupt and security needed to be called in. It mimicked some of the anti-establishment riots and protests we’ve been witnessing across the U.S. with people chanting “no, no, no “over and over again while getting into the face of many of the airline workers. I and everyone else understand people rightfully being upset. Vacations planned, limited time to certain vacation destinations, timely events for families and friends to be together are impacted and disrupted by the cancellation. But there was a glaring contrast of cancelled flights that I witnessed first-hand between the situation at JFK and the one I was involved in.

We the Jewish people rationalize and reason why certain things happen in life. As difficult as it sometimes is to accept it, we nevertheless try our best. It is through the approach that “Gam Zu L’Tova” “everything is for the best”, or “we don’t know why things happen” are different approaches to difficult times but brings God into the picture thus bringing us closer to Him. I recently heard a beautiful word of Torah about the name of Hashem and the word Shalom which is one of God’s names. If we exemplify the middos of Hashem through peaceful action will we then acquire a stronger bond and relationship with Hashem.

The focus of peace is highlighted in the beginning of this week’s Parsha Pinchas. Following last week’s episode at the end of Parshas Balak, Pinchas rises up and kills Zimri ben Saloo and Kazbi bas Tzur as they committed a public act of immorality. Many had challenged Pinchas’ brazenness and quick action calling into question whether he acted properly or not. God backed up Pinchas as is stated in Bamidbar 25:12-13 “Lachein Emor Hinini Nosein Lo Es Brisi Shalom. V’Hayisa Lo uL’Zaro Acharav Bris Kehunas Olam, Tachas Asher Kinei LeiLohav Vayichapear Al Bnei Yisrael”. “Therefore I say; Behold I give unto him my covenant of peace. And it should be to him and his seed after him the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel”.

The commentaries explain God made a covenant of peace with Pinchas because he defended His honor. The word ‘kinei’ describes Pinchas being jealous for Hashem and standing up for Him. The word Kinei is spelled with an aleph. I would like to use my literary license (and within Halachik literature) substitute the ‘aleph’ with the letter ‘hey’. The word still spells out ‘kinei’ but can also be read as ‘knei’ to acquire. Since Pinchas acquired something for Hashem it turned out to be an atonement for the Jewish people. The item that Pinchas acquired was Shalom/peace as his actions calmed this rebellious action of Zimri. There was a great deal of confusion and unrest at the time Zimri and Kazbi performed a sin in public. Pinchas restored the peace and calm that ravaged the Jewish camp.

The Torah’s message becomes clear with the understanding that in order for us to rise to the level of a Pinchas we do not necessarily need to seek out public sinners in order to defend God’s honor. Rather the secret to defending God’s honor is by bringing peace into every situation we find ourselves in. Whether we diffuse a fight between two friends in the way Aharon HaKohein did or create Shalom Bayis in a home and within family is the most obvious ways of recalling Hashem. Perhaps there is a greater way to bring and defend the honor of Hashem that is outside the realm of our homes, family and friends. It is the times we find ourselves under dire pressure and upsetting circumstances that test our patience. This is the time to display a more peaceful disposition that brings us closer to Hashem.

There is not a doubt in my mind that the way we fellow Jews acted during an awful situation of a cancelled flight created a covenant with Hashem due to the ‘peace’ in the manner we behaved. In contrast to the second group I mentioned earlier which did the complete opposite by creating a raucous and therefore brought discord and separation between them and God.

In conclusion the Ba’al Haturim writes the numerical value (gematria) of the word ‘shalom is three hundred seventy-six. The two words Zehu Moshiach (this is Messiah) also equals three hundred seventy-six. Pointing to the necessary component that will ultimately bring Moshiach is by providing and creating peace among ourselves and in all situations we seem to be in. Creating an atmosphere of Shalom/peace is something we are all capable of doing at many points of our life. Let us bring peace and strengthen the Bris/covenant that will ultimately be the cause of Hashem to rebuild the third Bais HaMikdash speedily in our day.

Ah Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky