FOR PINCHAS
THE SACRIFICE OF CONQUERING THE LAND
The news coming from Israel has been explosive, to say the least. As the news media are having a field day, deadly rockets are falling over most of Israel. School children in camps, adults going about their daily activities, even brides and grooms at their wedding ceremonies, have been forced to halt their actions abruptly, and rush instead to safe locations to protect their lives.
This was all precipitated by the brutal abduction and immediate execution of three young boys, butchered for the sole crime of being Jewish. This led to alleged Jewish drifters taking revenge on an innocent Arab kid – which has, rightfully so, left the Jewish world in shock and outrage, if this is indeed the case. Jewish people are not known for this type of crime, and it is unacceptable. That the Israeli army is unprecedentedly calling to warn people to evacuate homes in which terrorists hide, should be telling as to how Jewish people feel about innocent victims.
In the meantime, Israel has vowed to make the affected region quiet. Hundreds of terrorist targets in Gaza have been pounded in the past few days. This has inevitably caused many casualties. At the same time, the citizens of Israel, as well as people around the world, know well that until the ability to harm others is obliterated, terrorists will be back. The job must be finished, sooner or later.
As all this is unfolding, almost everyone is missing the incredible miracles occurring right in front of the world: While over 500 rockets have been fired into Israel over the last few days, not a single person has been killed there from this deadly barrage. Moreover, hardly any bodily damage has been caused, either. Each one of these weapons has the power, Heaven forfend, to kill, and certainly maim. Some of them have destroyed buildings, and created craters in the ground. Most of these rockets have fallen either in empty lots or on empty buildings. The ones targeted for bigger cities have, in the most part, been intercepted by Israel’s amazing Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. The majority of these weapons of destruction have fallen harmlessly to human beings.
The low injury list is nothing short of miraculous. There is no other way around this.
And so, aside from prayers which everyone offers – for the continued success of the Israel Defense Forces to complete the necessary work, and for continued protection of all those living in the Holy Land – it is, first and foremost, important to recognize the marvel of the Almighty’s protection over His Land. People who wonder whether miracles still happen, need simply to connect to any media outlet from Israel and open up both eyes. Thank you, G-d Almighty, for all Your kindness.
Many reading these words, though, do not live in Israel. Are any miracles left for those not there?
Studying a story in this week’s Torah portion, “Pinchas,” gives a powerful perspective and message in the area of miracles.
The Jewish people were on the border of the Holy Land, just a mere few weeks away from entering it. For the first time, the Torah presents the reality of apportioning the Land to the people. When all was said and done, the actual division of the Land – until the final family (of hundreds of thousands) was settled – took seven years. This was to be a big deal.
The Torah, in this week’s portion, states: “You should apportion the land as an inheritance… To a large tribe you should give a larger inheritance and to a small tribe you should give a smaller inheritance.” (B’midbar (Numbers) 26:53-54.) There was also a lottery system for the precise locations of settlement.
Following this, the daughters of a man named Tzelophchad came to Moses. They said: “Our father died in the desert. He was not part of the group the rebelled against G-d, nor was he in Korach’s assembly (that rebelled against Moses), but rather, he died due to his own sin. He had no sons. Why should our father’s name be missed out from his family because he had no son? Give us a portion along with our father’s brothers!” (27:1-4.) Moses brought this case before the Almighty, Who instructed that, in the absence of sons, father’s portions do, indeed, go the daughters.
Who was the father of these obvious righteous women? When relating the story of their father, the daughters state: “He died due to his own sin.” This had to be a familiar sin mentioned previously. Rabbi Akivah (Talmud Bava Basra, 119a) learns that, as mentioned previously in the same book (15: 32), this was the person who was gathering sticks on the Shabbos. His intention of publicly desecrating the Shabbos was a positive one. When the people were required to remain in the desert for forty years due to the sin of spies inciting a movement against entering the Land, some people decided they would no longer be obligated to observe the commandments. No Land, no obligations. This person provided an example to be punished for violating a commandment. People now knew that the commandments were very much valid.
The father of these girls was a man who sacrificed his life for the sake of G-d and His people.
Based on the above expanded story, an important lesson can be learned. Generally speaking, men are naturally aggressive. They want to “conquer.” They need to feel as though they are in charge. Women, on the other hand, are naturally more passive. They are primarily seeking “inside” control – of their homes, and of the loved ones inside their homes.
Every person of this world – male or female – is given the masculine objective: to “conquer” one’s own “world,” defeating all “enemies” and obstacles in the way. In the event when there are no “sons,” or one cannot tap into the “masculine” inclination of conquering one’s own world, the Land is given to the “daughters,” or to one’s “feminine” energies, to conquer one’s personal world.
The strength for this attitude is based on the “father-like” fugure. He is a person actually surrendering his very life to strengthen and to spread G-dliness and goodness to others.
The soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, as well as the overwhelming majority of Israel’s citizens, are prepared to give their lives to protect the people of the Holy Land. They are, in essence, prepared to sacrifice their lives for goodness and G-dliness. This comes from a deep realization of the “Tzelophchad” element within their hearts and souls. As the Almighty has already shown, they will miraculously succeed in conquering their “world.”
It is up to the rest of those not living there, whether more inclined to the masculine or the feminine, to be dedicated in conquering each one’s personal “world,” at whatever cost. In this way, each person can be assured of the help of the One Above, in defeating the enemies, and creating a beautiful, safe and secure world.
SUMMARY: It takes a sense of devotion and sacrifice to defeat the relentless enemies of Israel, creating a safe Land. It takes the same to conquer one’s own world.