As alluded to earlier, according to the holy writings of the Arizal, Zimri had recognized Koz’bee as his soulmate. He was doing what he believed Hashem wanted him to do, except that he did it totally out of context, insulting Moshe and the Beit HaMikdash. The message here is paradoxical. There are other problems when you look at this, such as “Thou shalt not murder.” Can we just go around murdering people without a fair hearing because God inspires us to do so? This level of explanation could, therefore, be a justification for the continual murderous actions of terrorism as a general policy. Part of the answer to this comes from a section in Olat Riya by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook: The only valid zealousness is that which is totally devoted to God. Therefore, God came and informed everybody that Pinchas’s nature was identical with that of his grandfather, Aharon, who was good to all and pursued peace. Pinchas was far from being a murderer, since his intentions were all directed toward God.... We have to purify zealousness that it will always remain only out the love of God. Generally, it is impossible, and therefore there must be self-analysis to ensure it does not become the zealousness for another human being, which is destructive, but zealousness only for God, which brings with it a covenant of peace.... The love of God at its highest level turns into divine zealousness in its purest forms. It is expressed in the character of Eliyahu, and Pinchas is Eliyahu, the zealot who is the pinnacle of love for God. (Orot HaKodesh 3:244) Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, MD Torah is a Guide to Enlightenment (Parsha Pinchas)
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 07:30:22 +0000