Torah: Numbers 25:10 - 30:1
Haftarah: 1 Kings 18:46 - 19:21
14 Tammuz 5774 / 11-12 July 2014
Calendar of Events and Dedications follow. Full calendar and lots more info about our community available at: http://www.bethmeier.org
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
--------------------------------------------------------------
ZEALOTS NEED NOT APPLY
"Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set over the congregation a man who will go out before them, and who will come in before them, and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd." Numbers 27:16-17
Rashi, quoting Tanchuma: "Appoint over them a leader who will be patient with each and every one according to his mind."
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk: When Moses saw how great Pinchas was, he was afraid that he would be chosen as leader, but he was not pleased with the prospect of having such a zealot as the leader of the Jewish people. He therefore asked God that the leader be a tolerant man and not a zealous one.
It seems curious that Moses would not want a zealot to lead the people after his death. This would seem particularly true in the case of Pinchas, who was, after all, "zealous for his God". (Numbers 25:13) What could be wrong with a man who is zealous on behalf of God?
Zealots are, in the words of Eric Hoffer, "true believers" who are by definition intolerant of any view other than their own. Intolerance all too often leads to hate and war. Regardless of religious or political persuasion, all who worship at the altar of their particular god of hate and who kill those with whom they disagree, are to be opposed – but within limits.
In the war against terrorism, we must nevertheless be careful to avoid fanaticism and intolerance ourselves, lest we become that which we fight against. Similarly, in our interpersonal relations, particularly in our discussions of the great issues of the day, we must avoid such zealotry. This Tuesday is 17 Tammuz, a fast day associated with the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. We would do well to remember that the Talmud teaches that Jerusalem fell because of sinat chinam - baseless hatred. Rabbi B. Y. Natan, quoted in Itturei Torah, says, "It appears that the verse here hints that the way of peace is always better and more effective than that of zealotry and war." To which verse is he referring? "Therefore say, 'Behold, I give him my covenant of peace.'" (Numbers 25:12)
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City, CA
Visit me on Facebook
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calendar and Dedications
Candlelighting: 7:48 pm
Friday: Family Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Shabbat morning service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 1:00 noon. Although it is a partial fast day (17 Tammuz – 4:24 am – 8:27 pm), lunch will be provided for those who are not fasting.
This d'var torah is offered in memory of my mother-in-law, Helena Kronzek, whose yahrzeit falls on Monday. Y’hi zekherah liv’rakhah.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avram Yisrael ben Channah (Robert Flom), Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah Mindel bat Toby, Elsbet Brosky, Howard Ehrlich, Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Jayne Kaplan, Annie Rivera, and Helen Schugar.
Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to the refuah shleimah list or if there is anyone who may be removed from the list.
My weekly divrei torah are also available via the Cyber Torah e-mail list.
Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):
Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To request dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of loved ones or for a refuah shleimah send an e-mail with your request to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
