Pinchas – Body and Soul

As Jews, we are used to fighting for both our physical and spiritual survival. 

Classic sources saw this duality in the two festivals of Purim and Chanukah, with Purim celebrating our escape from a physical threat and Chanukah our triumph over the Hellenistic religious attraction and persecution (see Turei Zahav - Ta”z - to OC 570:3). Others read this into the Haggadah’s contrast between Pharaoh’s decree against the males and Lavan’s desire to destroy everyone. As opposed to Pharaoh’s attempt to annihilate us, the threat of Lavan may not have been physical at all. Rather his claim to Yaakov (Bereishis 31:43) that “your sons are my sons, your daughters are my daughters,” was part of a broader effort to absorb and assimilate Yaakov’s family as part of his own. Physically and materially, we may have thrived in Lavan’s home, but we would have ceased to exist as a distinct faith community, as Klal Yisrael (see Netziv’s Haggadah Imrei Shefer).

In this light it is worth considering how the story of Pinchas relates to the unfolding narrative that we have read from the Torah in recent weeks. In Parshat Chukat (Bamidbar 21:21), as we began our approach to Eretz Yisrael, we encountered Sichon and Og whom we had to defeat in physical battle. We were then attacked by Bilaam, whose blessings and curses utilized a prayer-type tool, mimicking a Jewish approach to conflict (kol Yaakov; see Rashi to Bamidbar 31:8). Ultimately, however, Bilaam succeeds to some degree in utilizing the non-confrontational and assimilatory approach, orchestrating the Jewish people’s seduction into intermarriage and idol worship (Bamidbar 25). How fitting that our Sages connected these two promoters of assimilation, Bilaam and Lavan of Aram Naharayim )Devarim 23:5; see Sanhedrin 105a, Targum Yonasan to Bamidbar 22:5).

It is that spiritual collapse that Pinchas stood up to protest and to stop, which is why Pinchas becomes the Kohein who would lead the Jewish people into battle, the Mashuach Milchama, the Kohein who is consecrated to lead the Jewish People into battle (see Sotah 43a), bridging the battles for both physical and spiritual survival.

Some time ago, my mother tlct”a chanced upon a letter burrowed in the pages of a book in my father’s library. The letter was written by Rav Soloveitchik in December 1947, between the United Nation’s vote in favor of partition and the actual declaration of Medinat Yisrael, and addressed to American rabbis. It is exceptionally poignant for us as we consider the twin struggles of our own time. I am attaching a copy of the original letter that I urge you to print and share at your Shabbos table. Here is a loose translation:

28 Kislev 5708

Honored and esteemed Rabbi,

We are standing at this critical hour on the threshold of an outstanding period of historic impact reflecting our long-standing destiny. From the struggle of the few builders and children of the land with the many enemies of G-d, from amidst the sounds of clashing swords and war whoops, arises the astounding vision of Jewish sovereignty. We must give praise and gratitude to the Rock of Israel and its Redeemer who has given us life and sustained us to this day, granting us the ability to participate in the building of our land and birthplace and in such an awesome historic undertaking that we pray will be transformed into the full redemption with the coming of Moshiach.

Together with the feelings of tremulous joy that fill our hearts as we greet the first rays of dawn spilling over the mountaintops of Judaea, we feel an ethical responsibility to emerge with a powerful call to all sectors of our people - and particularly to the Orthodox community whose souls has always been bound to the holiness of the chosen land and who prayed every day for its redemption - to join and to come together as one for the sake of strengthening the spirit of Torah and tradition in the renewed Jewish state. We must use every means at our disposal to have the laws of the Torah govern life in the state and to leave their imprint on the character of the land.

Towards this end, we are calling for a gathering of our rabbinic colleagues, old and young, for Tuesday, December 16, 1947, at 8:00 pm, in the Hotel McAlpin on 34th and Broadway in New York City. The purpose of the gathering is to consider seriously all of the spiritual challenges facing the developing state.

We are honored to invite you to honor us by your participation in this important meeting so that together we will marshal all of our strength towards the improvement and establishment of the spiritual and Torah character of the state.

With the blessings of Torah,

Joseph Dov Halevi Soloveitchik