“Revealing Hidden Praise”[1]
Parshas Pinchos 5782
לרפואה שלימה אסתר תהלה בת אריאל ציפורה
Based on “Erev Shabbos Parsha Inspiration” by Rabbi Phillip Moskowitz[2]
Written by Rabbi Dani Staum
There are two great leaders who are discussed in parshas Pinchos: Pinchos and Yehoshua.
It is interesting that they are both highlighted in the same parsha. It is clear why Pinchos is mentioned, because he was the hero who saved the nation when they sinned with the Midianite women. But why should Yehoshua be mentioned here? The reason Moshe had to appoint a successor was because of his sin when he struck the rock. But that sin occurred in parshas Chukas.[3] Why should Yehoshua and the transition of power be mentioned in parshas Pinchos? In fact, in a way the discussion about Yehoshua seems to take away from the honor of Pinchos. Why should the parsha which lauds the heroics of Pinchos, write about Yehoshua’s appointment as the future leader, and not Pinchos?
Some might reason that perhaps plan A was for Pinchos to be the successor of Moshe. But when Moshe saw Pinchos’ act of zealousness, despite the fact that it was courageous, bold, and heroic, Moshe became concerned that perhaps Pinchos was too fiery to be the leader. That was why Moshe chose Yehoshua instead, as plan B.
But perhaps there is a more practical message for us:
There are two paths to greatness. One is based on doing something bold and dramatic, a spectacular and courageous action; a moment that grabs headlines. We can call that a Pinchos moment. It’s a time when a pilot lands his plane on a river, or a grandmother lifts a car off her grandchild. But it’s not everyday moments.
Most of our lives are comprised of actions that are the opposite of Pinchos moments that are part of the daily grind.
Perhaps that’s the contrast between Pinchos and Yehoshua. Pinchos did a courageous, bold, and heroic act that grabbed the headlines because it saved the Jewish people from a far greater disaster. But despite it being an incredibly impactful event, it was just that – a one-time event. It doesn’t represent daily living.
Yehoshua, on the other hand, is a symbol of consistency and constant striving for greatness. “ומשרתו יהושע בן נון נער לא ימיש מתוך האהל – And his attendant Yehoshua bin Nun the young one, did not move from the tent.” (Shemos 33:11)
Yehoshua symbolizes constancy and daily commitment. Yehoshua didn’t make the headlines on the New York Times or CNN. But his pathway to greatness was his daily commitment.
The ultimate successor of Moshe was Yehohsua, not Pinchos. Pinchos has a parsha that bears his name, an eternal tribute to his great act. But the mantle of leadership is granted to Yehoshua.
The moments that grab headlines and go viral on social media are exciting and dramatic. But our lives are defined by consistency.
The Rambam in Mishna Torah is extremely particular and thought out in how he codified each section of laws. What defines the Rambam isn’t just what he says, but how he organized it.
In his sefer “Ahava – love”, we would expect the Rambam to include laws of marriage or meditation. But instead Rambam includes the laws of kerias Shema, tefillin, mezuzah, tzitzis berachos, b’ris milah. Do those mitzvos symbolize love?
In his introduction Rambam explains, “ספר שני. אכלול בו המצוות שהן תדירות, שנצטווינו בהם כדי לאהוב את המקום ולזוכרו תמיד – I include here the mitzvos that are constant, that we are commanded in them so that we will love the Omnipresent and remember Him constantly.” Doing mitzvos with regularity brings love.
Spouses who only express their love for each other once in a while or just on their anniversary, will not have a very strong marriage. Relationships are built on daily interactions that express and showcase their love for each other on a constant basis. A quick text, or note expressing affection left in the other’s lunch, builds love more poignantly than an anniversary card.
Yehoshua moments are far deeper and longer lasting than Pinchos moments, though they are not as dramatic and exciting.
Yehoshua is a less dramatic personality in the Torah, but he becomes the successor of Moshe because Yehoshua symbolizes the real path to greatness – regularity and consistent commitment.
- Hidden Praise is the loose meaning of Esther Tehilla, for whose refuah these divrei Torah were written. ↑
- “Parshas Pinchos Erev Shabbos parsha inspiration! 3 ideas in 30 minutes!”, July 10, 2020, posted on YUTorah ↑
- According to the Abarbanel, Moshe was really punished for his involvement in sending the spies in parshas Shelach. It was only to preserve Moshe’s dignity that the Torah writes that it was the sin of hitting the rock. But even according to the Abarbanel that occurred a few parshios earlier. ↑