Rabbi Frand on Parshas Pinchas
This Dvar Torah was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape #64, 'The Yarmulka: At Home and In the Office'.
Good Shabbos!
Dedicated This Year Le'eluy Nishmas Chaya Bracha Bas R. Yissocher Dov
In memory of Mrs. Adele Frand
The Double Vov: Sometimes a Vov of Connection, Sometimes of Division
Parshas Pinchas begins with the conclusion of the incident that occurred at
the end of Parshas Balak. In an act of zealous jealousy for G-d (Kanaim
pog'im bo), Pinchas killed both a Jewish tribal leader and a Midianite
woman while they were publicly engaged in an act of sexual immorality.
In the beginning of this week's parhsa, the Torah grants Pinchas "The
Covenant of Peace" (es Brisi Shalom) as a reward for his action. The letter
"vov" [the sixth letter of Hebrew alphabet] in the word Shalom is split (vov
k'tiah), as if there are two vovs, one on top of the other. What is the
symbolism behind this unique vov?
Throughout the description of Creation, the Torah concludes each day with
the comment, "And the L-rd saw that it was good." Chazal note, however,
that at the conclusion of the second day of Creation, when G-d split the
waters [Genesis 1:6] (between the waters above and below the "Rakiah" --
the firmament), the Torah omits that comment. The Rabbis explain that the
reason for this omission is that the splitting of the waters marked the
first time in history that there was division (Machlokes). Prior to this
act, there was Unity in the world; now there was Division. Regarding
"Machlokes" [literally: Argument] we can never say "It was good".
Chazal elaborate: If this original Division, which enabled establishment of
the world, could not be described as "Ki Tov" [it was good], then
certainly regular disputes, even with the noblest of motives, cannot be
described as "Tov".
However, there appears to be a contradiction to this Chazal from the very
same parsha in Bereishis. G-d divided between the Light and the Darkness,
and the pasuk [verse] there immediately comments, "And the L-rd saw that it
was good" [Genesis 1:18].
Rav Shlomo Breuer resolves this contradiction with a beautiful insight: He
quotes the verse "...Truth and Peace you shall love" [Zechariah 8:19]. We
must love Peace. However, there is something that comes before Peace... and
that is Truth. As much as we emphasize the importance of Shalom [peace], in
the final analysis Shalom is important up to a certain point -- and that is
the point of Emes [truth]. A person should not make Shalom if making Shalom
is going to compromise the Emes, by causing him to throw out principles and
values that he knows to be Emes.
The Mishnah [Uktzin 3:12] states "G-d did not find any vessel to hold
Blessing, other than the vessel of Peace". Shalom is the receptacle; it is
the vessel that holds everything; but a person sometimes has to look and ask
himself, "what am I left holding?" If I compromise everything in the name of
Shalom, then what is this vessel of Shalom left holding? It is holding
nothing. Yes, Peace, but remember the sequence of the verse: Truth and
(then) Peace you shall love.
Now we can understand the difference between the Separation between "the
waters and the waters" (the Rakiah) and the Separation between "Light and
Darkness". In the case of the Rakiah, there was no real difference between
the waters above and the waters below. The division was merely for the sake
of division. While the division was necessary for the welfare of the world,
inherently it had no purpose. Therefore, the verse does not say "Ki Tov".
However, separation between the Light and the Darkness -- between something
that represents good and something that represents bad; between something
that is right and something that is wrong -- that is a division about which
we can indeed say "Ki Tov".
Pinchas did not seek out compromise with Zimri and Kozbi in the name of
Peace. Pinchas knew that there is a point at which a person must draw the
line and say "here, and no further!" That is an example of "between Light
and Darkness".
Now we can understand why the vov of Shalom is split: Yes, Shalom is
important, but there are two kinds of Shalom. The "vov" can sometimes be a
"vov haChibur" -- a vov that connects [the vov used as a conjunctive "and"]
and sometimes the "vov" can be used for distinction as a letter which
divides, a vov of "machlokes", of division.
That is why the "vov" of Shalom is split. When pursuing the cause of Shalom,
a person must remember that there are two vovs. Sometimes the "vov haChibur"
is appropriate and he should say, "Yes, here it is worthwhile to
compromise". However, sometimes the "vov of chiluk" -- of separation -- is
appropriate. Sometimes in the name of Shalom, a person must say "No,
machlokes is better than Shalom at _any_ price".
The Chasam Sofer takes note of the fact that the language of the Mishneh
[Avot 1:12] is "Loving Peace and Pursuing [Rodef] Peace". Usually the
connotation of the word Rodef means one who pursues (for the sake of
harming). The Chasam Sofer notes that sometimes in the name of Peace, we
must be a Pursuer of Peace. When Pinchas was trying to kill Zimri, he was
indeed a Rodef (a pursuer), but sometimes that is what is in fact necessary
in the name of Shalom.
Transcribed by David Twersky; Seattle, Washington.
Technical Assistance by Dovid Hoffman; Yerushalayim.
This week's write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi
Yissocher Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tapes on the weekly Torah
portion. The halachic portions for Parshas Pinchas from the Commuter
Chavrusah Series are:
- Tape # 064 - The Yarmulka: At Home and In the Office
- Tape # 154 - Writing a Halachically Sanctioned Will
- Tape # 201 - Fasting on Tisha B'Av: Is It For Everyone?
- Tape # 246 - Hilchos Brachos: Ikar Ve Tofel
- Tape # 291 - The Do's and Don't of Kashering Keilim
- Tape # 336 - Tisha B'Av on Motzoei Shabbos
- Tape # 381 - Making A Zecher Le'churban
- Tape # 425 - Minhagim of the Three Weeks
- Tape # 469 - Tu B'Av
- Tape # 513 - Leining on Fast Days and Other Ta'aneisim Issues
New! Yad Yechiel Institute is on-line! Visit http://www.yadyechiel.org !For information via email, you may also write to tapes@yadyechiel.org. Tapes or a complete catalogue can be ordered from: Yad Yechiel Institute
PO Box 511
Owings Mills, MD 21117-0511
Call (410) 358-0416 for further information.
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled: Rabbi Yissocher Frand: In Print and is available through your local Hebrew book store or from Project Genesis, 1-410-654-1799.
Rav Frand Books and Audio Tapes are now available for sale! Thanks to www.yadyechiel.org and Artscroll.com.
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