B"H

Tuesday, Tammuz 15, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / July 4, 2023

As mentioned yesterday, the name of this week’s Parsha is Pinchas, who  was the son of Elazar and grandson of Aaron, the High Priest.

The Torah tells us that because of Pinchas’ courage and quick thinking, which stopped a plague which took the lives of 24,000 Jews, G-d gave him the gift of the priesthood, proclaiming him and his descendants to be Kohanim (priests). Although, his father and grandfather were kohanim, Pinchas himself was not a kohen until this point.

Q.  According to Jewish law, a son of a Kohen is automatically a Kohen from birth. Pinchas was the son of a Kohen and grandson of Aaron, the High Priest, why wasn’t he a Kohen until now?

A.   When G-d proclaimed Aaron and his four sons as Kohanim (priests) at the time when the Tabernacle was constructed, it was only for them and their children who will be born afterwards. Pinchas, who was already born at that time, wasn’t included. He became a Kohen only when he stopped the plague, for which G-d rewarded him with the priesthood. The Torah calls it, “A covenant of Shalom-peace.”

Q.   Why was he rewarded with the priesthood? And why is this called, “the covenant of peace?”

A.   Our sages in Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) say, “Be of the disciples of Aaron, love peace and pursue peace.” Aaron the High Priest was a person who loved peace and went out of his way to make peace between husband and wife and between people. A Kohen is called “a man of peace.” Because Pinchas brought about peace between G-d and the people and as a result, the plague which took 24,000 lives, stopped, G-d gave him the gift of “peace” by proclaiming him a kohen.

On the lighter side: Hymie, who wasn’t familiar with Jewish tradition, lost his father. His father’s last wish was that he say Kaddish after him. Hymie obeyed and every day went to shul to recite the kaddish. One day, he comes to the rabbi and says, “Rabbi, I see that being a kohen is a great honor. He gets called up to the Torah first and blesses the congregation. I would love to become a kohen.

“It’s impossible,” replied the rabbi. I cannot make you a kohen. Being a wealthy man, he tried his luck. “Rabbi, I will donate $25,000 to the synagogue building fund, if you make me a kohen. “Impossible,” said the rabbi.  Hymie was not one to give up. “How about $50,000.. $100,000?”

The rabbi was very curious. “Look Hymie, I’m not a kohen either. Most Jews are not kohanim. Why does it mean so much to you to become a kohen?”

Hymie replied, “Rabbi, You see, my grandfather was a kohen, my father was a kohen and I too, would like to be a kohen..”  Being a kohen is a birth rite. Pinchas was the only person who, after the building of the tabernacle, was not born a kohen, but later became a kohen. It never happened again in Jewish history.  Many of his descendants served as High Priests in the Holy Temple. 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY