Pinchas: Revolution

Pinchas:  Revolution

My mother used to tell me: es drait zach und es drait zach biz es drait zich arois, It turns and it turns until it (all) turns out.  The turning flavor of the word "revolution" emphasizes the recursive , equidistant from the center, periodic nature of changes in the structure of society.  The parsha  emphasizes the individuals that turned the wheel. 

Pinchas, the extremist who killed his cousins, Zimri and Cosbie for violating the Gd's sensibilities, established a new role in the people: zealot.    Moshe would not make this decision נתעלמה ממנו הלכה ( Sanhedrin 82a).  Rather, Pinchas tells Moshe of  the rule of the zealot   קנאין פוגעין בו , the zealot (may/should) attack him [the transgressor], which  was taught to Pinchas during the descent from Sinai.  The assertiveness of this (inter)action, and the fact that it is rewarded,  is emblematic of much of the parsha. 

The allusions to self confidence in the parsha are both positive and negative.  The most positive  forceful argument comes from the daughters of Zelophchod.  In a society that sells daughters into servitude until puberty and grants women no commercial legal status, they ask for the right to inherit  ( a large) portion of the promised land ( in preference to their uncles).  I am always moved when I see the long, feminizing  nuen  on mishpatan  ( אֶת-מִשְׁפָּטָן)in the description of Moshe's bringing their case before the Lrd. Their female voices were heard...and accepted. Their courage still calls out to us .

Korach's  co-conspirators, Dathan and Aviram get mentioned. They challenged the status quo and  their attempted  coup was quashed with a vengance,

 Nadav and Avihu are briefly noted.  They tried to modify  the temple service and  die for their  daring. The death of Moshe is attributed for his self-assertive  deviation from the instructions.

Moshe asks for a  replacement leader.  His request is made to the Lrd of the winds ( haruchoth), the master of the invisible forces of constant change.  Joshua, who had the courage to rebel against  his fellow scouts of the Holy Land , and had the audacity to speak and unpopular opinion, is chosen.

Acting for change can yield great rewards.  Just don't be wrong.