Confrontations are Necessary

Parshat פנחס begins with the reward given to Pinchas for his act of zealotry in killing the Midyanite princess, Kozbi, and the head of the tribe of Shimon, Zimri.

He is told that he will be granted ברית כהונת עולם, the covenant of Priesthood, forever. This is a great promise knowing that his descendants will carry on his ideals for eternity.

All of this may seem strange when we consider that he took the law into his own hands, and killed two individuals. He put an end to the plague that killed 24,000 Jews.

What we can learn from this whole episode is that there are times when confrontations are necessary. Some believe that they can pretend that all is well and “sweep the dust under the carpet.”

If serious disagreements are ignored, they do not go away, but fester. In the short run, it may be unpleasant to put everything “on the table.” But when the dust clears, the issues will be settled.

There was great turmoil after Pinchas did his act. Many were upset and believed that he acted improperly. And it was Hashem Himself that needed to make it clear that he was a hero that would be given great reward. A great deal can be learned from the heroism of Pinchas.