PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality Online

  • Convert to Judaism
  • Online Rabbinical Program
  • Donate

Parsha Pinchas: The Spear, A Dead Man, And The Sisters (Num.25:10 – 30:1)

July 12, 2012 by Jeremiah

Parsha Pinchas: The Spear, A Dead Man, And The Sisters (Num.25:10 – 30:1)

It’s easy to read Pinchas and think that with a just argument Hashem is open to reevaluate some Halacha, and I agree with that. It is also easy to look towards Pinchas for legitimizing righteous rage, and I would also agree with that. When I re-read Pinchas a few days ago I realized that this week’s portion is also about how often Hashem, Torah, Judaism, and religion as a whole is misrepresented.

Part of the human condition are conscience acts carried out in hopes of receiving a positive return. Pinchas and the five daughters of Zelophehad (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah) are perfect examples of this trait. The circumstances surrounding Pinchas and the five sisters are very different but they both are the direct result of others misrepresenting what Jews and Judaism is.

Our portion begins with its namesake, Pinchas or Phinehas. Pinchas is rewarded by Hashem with a pact resulting in friendship and a special place within the priesthood. What did he do to deserve such special attention? He speared two peopleJ. Throwing a spear through the torso of another human being is out of the question in this day and age but in context its easy to see why Pinchas found favor in the eyes of Hashem. The two he killed were misrepresenting Torah and the society the ancient Hebrews had constructed for themselves under the guidance of Hashem and Moses. There seems to be some question as to the nature of the damned’s display of defiance but they were openly misrepresenting what the ancient Hebrews believed and stood for and by default what we as modern Jews project as our belief system. Pinchas and his spear corrected what had the potential to be a devastating misconception of how Jews worship if not remedied immediately.

Traditionally inheritance had, up to this point, passed from father to sons not father to daughters. When Zelophehad died he left five capable yet unmarried daughters and no sons. The five sisters clearly distraught approach Moses and petition for what they felt was rightfully theirs. Hashem agrees and the mourning sisters are granted as an inheritance the land that was allocated to their father. What is interesting is while the daughters are stating their case they point out how their family stood by Hashem’s commandments and with Moses during Korach’s attempted coup. Clearly a top down father to son line of inheritance is a gross misrepresentation of how different sexes are viewed within Judaism, by correcting this misrepresentation of Hashem’s justice the five sisters were not only given what was rightfully theirs but they are immortalized in Torah.

Well. . . there you have it my new insight into Parsha Pinchas and how two very different circumstances corrected outside views of Judaism. Think I represented the portion well? Comment below or message me: Jeremiah@punktorah.org Twitter: @circlepitbimah

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: batman meme, Circle Pit The Bimah, darshan yeshiva, Hoglah, jeremiah, Mahlah, Milcah, noah, numbers, Parsha Pinchas, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, Phinehas, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, Tirzah, Zelophehad

Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary: Online Rabbinical Program

Through our relationship with Darshan Yeshiva, we are supporting the launch of Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary (PRS), what we hope to be the very best in practical, distance learning based rabbinical education. What do we love about this project? PRS is the only rabbinical school … [Read More...]

Now Hiring: Rabbis, Educators & Creatives

Rabbis Sought Want to work one-on-one as a rabbi, educator and mentor for an organization that is growing by leaps and bounds, utilizing new models of Jewish community as well as the latest learning technology? Darshan Yeshiva is currently searching for rabbis to be part of our growing … [Read More...]

Become a Jewish Spiritual Leader

Our online leadership school, Darshan Yeshiva, teaches you everything you need to know to become a Darshan, a lay Jewish spiritual leader serving unaffiliated communities all over the world. There are so many Jews out there who need community, but for whom there will never be a … [Read More...]

PunkTorah Inc.
PO Box 1641
Midlothian, VA 23113

questions@punktorah.org
YouTube
Facebook

Read our DMCA notice

Search the PunkTorah Blog Archive

What We Do

Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary: Online Rabbinical Program

Now Hiring: Rabbis, Educators & Creatives

Become a Jewish Spiritual Leader

  • Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud)
  • Judaism & Belief
  • The G-d Project Videos
  • Podcasts & Videos
  • NewKosher (Recipes)
  • Converting To Judaism
  • LGBTQ & Women
  • Shabbat & Holidays

Copyright PunkTorah Inc.© 2023