בס׳ד

"Where does it say that you have a contract with G-d to have an easy life?"

the Lubavitcher Rebbe



"Failure is not the enemy of success; it is its prerequisite."

Rabbi Nosson Scherman



8 Jul 2009

Pinchas and the peace prize

"Why Did Pinchas Deserve The 'Peace Prize'?
After Pinchas acted with zealotry by killing Zimri and Kozbi, he was rewarded by G-d with the "Covenant of Peace". The Netziv (1817-1893) explains why - contrary to our intuitive expectation -- the "Covenant of Peace" is in fact the appropriate response for Pinchas' activities. The Netziv says that by nature, a person's actions have a profound effect on him. "You are what you do."
..Therefore, explains the Netziv, the Torah rewarded Pinchas with a "Covenant of Peace." In spite of the fact that what Pinchas did was violent and the antithesis of peace, the reward was that it will not have the natural effect that such actions usually have on those who carry them out. He would remain a peace-loving and kind, compassionate, person.
...On a related matter, I saw it written in the name of Rav Aharon Kotler, zt"l, (1892-1962) that the world misunderstands the idea of "Shalom" [peace]. The popular perception is that peace consists of making up, hugging, and kissing. Likewise, the popular notion is that killing someone is the antithesis of "Shalom."
The pasuk testifies that, contrary to popular opinion, Pinchas actually performed an act of "peace". It was not war, the antithesis of peace, but it was precisely an act of peace. By putting an end to wickedness, Pinchas restored peace between Israel and their Father in Heaven.
Likewise, Rav Aharon Kotler pointed out, when the shepherds of Lot were having an argument with the shepherds of Avram, Avram proposed "Let there not be a fight between me and you -- separate please from me" [Bereshis 13:9]. The popular notion would be that the solution to a problem of strife would be "let's be friends." Avram, on the contrary suggested "let's separate." What kind of "peace-making" effort is that? Why did he not suggest "let's live together in peace"?
The answer is that sometimes we cannot live in peace together with certain people. Avram perceived that there was no possible peaceful coexistence between his shepherds and those of Lot. The only viable solution in such a situation is "Let's separate."
In the case of Pinchas as well, the solution of "peace" involved killing two people, in order to restore peace between Israel and G-d."


The above dvar Torah was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes and transcribed by David Twersky
http://www.torah.org/learning/ravfrand/5762/pinchas.html

A senior UN official says Israel must tear down its West Bank separation barrier. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the demand to mark five years since the International Court of Justice declared the barrier illegal and a violation of Palestinian rights.
Pillay said Wednesday that Israel must "dismantle the wall" and "make reparations for all damage suffered."
http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3083,00.html
Perhaps, Navi Pillay should take note of the above dvar Torah. Sometimes, we cannot live in peace with other people.
Below is a video of an interview with Israeli ambassador Michael Oren. One minute into the interview the ambassador is asked,

"Do you believe there’s a moment time in the near future when the Palestinians will recognize Israel as a legitimate Jewish state?"
He responds with the following words. "Two weeks ago I watched a public service announcement by the Palestinian authority, paid for, by the way, with American taxpayers' dollars and the public service announcement said, "welcome to PA television, we are going to liberate not only Tulkarem and Jenin but we are going to liberate Haifa and Jaffa and Tiberias. " Now that’s not the way to go. That does not lead to mutual recognition of the rights of two peoples to their independent states."

Maybe we have to redefine the concept of peace.

No comments:

Post a Comment