Hamaayan/The Torah Spring Edited by Shlomo Katz Parashat Pinchas Volume VI/Number 41 (275) 24 Tamuz 5752/July 25, 1992 "Bayamim Hahem, Bazman Hazeh" 1 Av 3413 On this day, at the beginning of the Second Temple period, Ezra Hasofer arrived in Yerushalayim with other returnees from Bavel. Chazal say that Bnei Yisrael would have witnessed miracles in Ezra's times as great as those of Yehoshua's day, if only they had been worthy. The people tell us that the redemption can come "in its time" ("B'itah") or "in a hurried fashion" ("Achishenah"). If we are deserving, say Chazal - "Achishenah." Otherwise - B'itah." In one verse we read that the Mashiach will come as "a pauper riding a donkey." In another place we read that he will come "with the clouds of the heavens." These alternatives, Rashi (Sanhedrin 98a) writes, parallel the alternatives mentioned above. If we are deserving, Mashiach will come on the speeding clouds. If we are not, he will come as a pauper rides his donkey, i.e. lazily taking his time. In Ezra's day, Bnei Yisrael were not deserving of open miracles, and the redemption had to take place in a gradual, apparently natural fashion. The Persian king granted permission to rebuild the Bet Hamikdash, then withdrew it. Immigration to Eretz Yisrael increased, then stopped. Then the whole process started again until, after 18 years, the Temple was completed. [May we merit the rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash in the near future, in our days.] (R' Yissachar Shlomo Teichtel, HY"D: Eim Habanim Smeichah p. 37) ************************************ Parasha Overview The Sefat Emet writes that the unifying theme in this Parasha is the transition from the supernatural desert-way-of-life to the natural Eretz Yisrael-way-of-life. In the former, everything (e.g. the "Mahn") was given to the Jews; in Eretz Yisrael, they would have to work. Among the new leaders of the Jewish people would be Pinchas, someone who earned the right to be a Kohen, and did not inherit it from his grandfather, Aharon. Also in this Parasha the Jews are enjoined to "terrorize" the Midianites. It is not enough for the Jews to fight this war simply because Hashem told them to. In their new way-of-life they must feel their own enmity towards the nation that tried to destroy Bnei Yisrael. Bnei Yisrael are counted once again - a new census for a new age. Rashi notes that each tribe and family is referred to in such a way that the letters of Hashem's name are incorporated into the family name. When Bnei Yisrael must live naturally - when they are relatively farther from Hashem - and they still fulfill the Torah, Hashem's name is revealed and sanctified to a greater extent than it was during the desert period of closeness. This suggests a connection to the period of the "Three Weeks" which we are now in, for in exile we are on a lower level yet. However, this need not stop us from sanctifying Hashem's name. The Parasha's final section, the Korbanot, is also fitting for this period, as it reminds us of the Temple which we have lost. (Sefat Emet 5640; 5643) ************************************ "And the daughters of Tzelofchad approached, [they were] from the family of Menashe, the son of Yosef." (27:1) Rashi says that Yosef is mentioned here to teach us that just as Yosef loved Eretz Yisrael (and asked to be buried there), so his descendants loved Eretz Yisrael. Their request for a share of the land was not motivated by materialistic concerns. R' Moshe Feinstein asks: Whether or not Tzelofchad's daughter received a share of the land, they would still live there. Why, then, did they insist on owning their own portions? The Torah is teaching us that if one loves something, he should want to own it. Thus we can understand the Halacha which requires a person to own a Torah library (see Y.D. section 270:2). For studying alone, it is enough to borrow Torah works. However, to enhance one's love of Torah, he should try to own its works. (Darash Moshe) ************************************ How can Yosef be compared to his great-granddaughters? They wished to enter Eretz Yisrael alive, to own it and to work it. He only asked to be buried there! The Torah is teaching us, said R' Chaim Yehuda Meir Hager of Viso (d.1968), that such a view is misguided. Our great love for Eretz Yisrael is nothing more than an inheritance from our ancestors who requested burial in the holy land although their love for the land was only realized in that way it is their merit which enables us to settle and strengthen it. (Zecher Chaim) ************************************ The period between the 17th of Tamuz and "Tisha B'Av" is called "Bein Hameitzarim." One meaning of this is "Between the Troubles" - i.e. the calamities which occurred on the two fast days. "Meitzarim" also means "boundaries." During the "Three Weeks" we always read the Parashot Pinchas, Matot, and Mas'ei, all of which deal with the boundaries of Eretz Yisrael and how it was divided among the tribes. This alludes to the future redemption, and serves as a consolation to us. (Iturei Torah, based on Rashi to Eichah 1:3) ************************************ Torah Study When R' Chaim "Brisker" Soloveitchik was to marry off a child, he asked that the Telsher Rav and Rosh Yeshiva, R' Eliezer Gordon, officiate at the marriage ceremony. This was surprising, as there were many distinguished Rabbis among the guests who were R' Leizer's senior by a number of years. R' Chaim explained his decision as follows: He had once received a letter from R' Leizer inviting him to move to Telshe (Telz) to serve as the Yeshiva's head lecturer. R' Chaim declined the invitation. He soon received a second letter, in which R' Leizer offered to relinquish the position of Rosh Yeshiva to R' Chaim, if the latter would accept the invitation. This offer, too, was declined. R' Leizer tried again. He was prepared, he wrote to R' Chaim, to step aside as both Rosh Yeshiva and Rabbi of the town, and remain in Telshe as a common resident, if R' Chaim would accept both of those positions and guide the students of Telshe in the method of Talmudic analysis for which he was famous. This offer, too, was refused. "Imagine," R' Chaim concluded, "a man so revered, a 'Gaon' and "Gadol' in his own right, and a very successful Rav and Torah teacher - and he is willing to give up everything so that his students can learn what he perceives as a proper method of Torah study. Where does one see such a display of 'Ahavat Torah' - love for Torah? "This is why I asked him to officiate at my son's wedding." ************************************ R' Shimon Schwab, Shlita, relates that he once spent a Shabbat with the "Chafetz Chaim" and heard the following thought: The "Mahn" which the Jews ate in the desert had the taste of whatever food the person eating it was thinking of. What taste did the Mahn have if the person was not thinking at all? The Chafetz Chaim answered, "If you don't think, it has no taste." He explained that the Mahn was a spiritual food that fell from Heaven; one who performs spiritual deeds without thought derives little pleasure from his deeds. The Chafetz Chaim continued, "What can be more tasty than a piece of Gemara? It is so sweet, but only if you think. Otherwise, you sit by the Gemara and it has no flavor all." (Reprinted with permission from For Love of Torah, pp.109,107) ************************************ The learning schedule for this Shabbat is: Mishnah Yomit: Negaim 12:3-4 (Learn two Mishnayot every day) Halacha Yomit: OC/MB 447:12-448:2 (Learn three paragraphs every day) Daf Yomi: Yevamot 27 (Learn two sides of a page every day) Rambam Chapter/Day: Hilchot Aydut - Chapter 14 3 Chapters/Day: Hilchot Melaveh V'Loveh - Chapters 10-12 Sefer Hamitzvot Sh:P199,N240; Su:N241,N242; M:N235; Tu:N236; W:N237; Th:P198; F:246