1. Pinchas: Standing Up Against the Flow
Pinchas emerges as the central figure in this week’s parsha, recognized for his heroic act of taking a stand when it was most difficult. The Torah presents a scenario where the majority of people, surrounded by various influences and ideas, would rather look away than challenge wrongdoing. It is far easier to go along with the crowd than to confront immoral behavior directly. Yet, Pinchas distinguishes himself by refusing to remain passive in the face of a grave sin that occurred at the end of last week’s portion. While everyone else stood by uncertainly, Pinchas took decisive action. His willingness to act when others hesitated is what sets him apart. The Torah emphasizes that God responded to Pinchas’ courage by bestowing upon him unique blessings and gifts. Most significantly, God appreciated that Pinchas became a kanai—a zealot who avenged God’s honor—placing him in an entirely different spiritual category. Because of this, God declared that He owed Pinchas a favor and elevated him to the status of kohen—a priest.2. The Story of Becoming a Kohen
To illustrate the uniqueness of Pinchas’ priesthood, there is an old story about a wealthy man who approached his rabbi with an unusual request: he wanted to become a kohen. The man offered increasingly large donations to the synagogue if only the rabbi would grant him this status. Despite the generous offers, the rabbi explained that being a kohen is not something within his power to bestow; it is determined by lineage. The punchline comes when the man reveals that his father and grandfather were both kohanim, making him one by birthright anyway—highlighting how priesthood is inherited and cannot be purchased or conferred arbitrarily. However, there is one notable exception in Jewish history: Pinchas.3. Why Wasn’t Pinchas Already a Kohen?
Pinchas was the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, who was appointed as the first kohen gadol—high priest. Logically, one might assume that Pinchas should have automatically been included among the kohanim. Yet, when God instructed Moshe to anoint Aaron and his sons as priests, He specified only Aaron and his two surviving sons (Eleazar and Itamar) for anointment. From that point forward, any children born to Aaron or his sons would naturally be kohanim. However, those already born at the time—such as Pinchas—were not included in this initial group and did not become priests through this process. Thus, despite being alive during Aaron’s anointment and being part of the family, Pinchas was not made a kohen at that time.4. Earning Priesthood Through Action
Pinchas became a kohen only after his courageous act described in this week’s parsha. His willingness to stand up for what was right—even though the wrongdoer was a leader from one of the tribes and even though other great people were present but did nothing—earned him this special status directly from God. This teaches us that sometimes exceptional actions can elevate a person beyond their natural status or birthright. In Pinchas’ case, his zeal for God’s honor granted him entry into the priesthood as a reward for his bravery and moral clarity.5. Lessons for Daily Life: Taking Responsibility
The story of Pinchas carries an important lesson for our own lives: we cannot stand idly by when we witness wrongdoing or injustice. The Torah urges us not to simply let things slip by or look away but rather to take responsibility and act when necessary. A famous quote attributed to Einstein displayed in science museums states: “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who stand around and do nothing.” This highlights how conformity and fear of standing out often prevent people from intervening against wrongdoing.6. The Challenge of Nonconformity in Jewish History
As Jews, we often see examples where standing up for what is right means going against popular opinion or facing widespread condemnation—especially regarding Israel or Jewish issues on the world stage. There is frequently a chorus of criticism directed at Jews while injustices elsewhere are ignored. This tendency toward conformity makes it difficult to take an unpopular stand. Yet our tradition reminds us that “Am levadad yishkon—the Jewish people dwell alone among the nations,” as Bilaam said in last week’s blessings. Throughout history, despite many enemies rising against us, Am Yisrael endures—Am Yisrael Chai—the Jewish people live on. We pray for continued divine protection for all members of Am Yisrael and strive to emulate Pinchas by having the courage to stand up for what is right even when it is difficult or unpopular.