Chaos and confusion.  This is how the creation of the world began.  This is how our parashah begins in the midst of, and what is happening, in our modern world.  “There was evening, there was morning, one day.” (Genesis 1:5)  Before this though, “Adonai said ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.  Adonai saw that the light was good, and Adonai separated between the light and the darkness.” (Genesis 1:3 - 1:4)  Notice that while the light came second, it still came.

            The rest of the Torah teaches us plenty about separation of the good and the bad, or evil, and how to tell the difference between them.  The Torah sets forth commandments for how to live our lives, and the same Torah demonstrates there are exceptions that are permissible under certain circumstances.  These exceptions are allowed when needed to demonstrate as long as the situation is necessary to separate the chaos from order, the evil from the good, to act for Adonai in the name of good, in order to save lives.

            Okay, I will explain!  When we left off last week, Pinhas had killed two people, an Israelite man and a Midianite woman, who fornicated openly in front of everyone in the assembly.  Although they went into a tent, their reason for entering the tent was made clear, and in case you don’t think so, and wish to give them the benefit of the doubt, Pinhas used one blow of the sword, which killed both of them.  The man was on top of the woman - I believe the picture could not be made clearer.  Well, it could be, but that would cross the line from holy to profane in terms of pornography, thus missing the point of the story.

            Prior to this happening, Adonai told Moses to instruct the assembly to kill those who succumbed to “thinking with the wrong head,” figuratively speaking, and in so doing they were seduced into worshipping idols.  While these two people were openly fornicating, others were being killed by a plague.  By killing these two people, Pinhas stopped the plague from taking the lives of many more.

            Notice Pinhas didn’t get worked into a rage - that we are told of - he didn’t strike the two more than was necessary to accomplish the job either.  He also didn’t hide what he had done, nor did he remove his bloodied sword and go after other men who had strayed from Adonai.  He did what the Torah tells us to do time and again, to stop evil in its tracks.  Yes, he killed, but considering the “in-your-face” attitude the Israelite man displayed, was he even redeemable?  We will never know.  What we do know is Pinhas’ action both saved a lot of lives, and certainly also put fear in the hearts of others about trying the same.  Sometimes, in order to stop the spread of evil, the only way to get everyone’s attention, and get them to stop what they are doing, i.e. make them think about their action, is to act quickly so it shocks even them!  Pinhas’ act said “enough” loudly and clearly, without using words.  He didn’t call for others to start killing either, nor rile people up to follow in his footsteps; instead, he acted, and walked out.  He didn’t even run.

            Where we begin our parashah this week is in the midst of chaos.  Not chaos caused by Pinhas, though certainly it aroused some, but primarily the chaos of the plague, the worshipping of idols, the chaos born of lust and of losing sight of Adonai, and the Israelites’ purpose.  Pinhas basically shined a light on the problem, and in so doing made certain Adonai returned to the forefront of the minds of the Israelites.  By the way, in this week’s parashah, we are told the man and the woman’s names, along with the fact their families were well-thought of in the chain of leadership.  Before they were killed, we only knew of their actions.  Perhaps this was to teach us wrong is wrong, and all people who commit evil should be treated the same way - family standing and power doesn’t matter, or even enter into the equation.  Wrong is wrong, period.

            This week’s parashah contains so many different stories, it may really seem as if there is no connection between them.  First we read Adonai told Moses Pinhas’ place is as a priest, was as a priest, and his swift action secured his offsprings’ places as priests for generations to come.  Then Adonai has Moses and Elazar, Aaron’s son, take a census for the purpose of war with the Midianites, who had pimped their own daughters to seduce the Israelites to worship idols.  We are also told the Levites were not included in this particular census, because their job was to serve Adonai as spiritual and religious leaders.  In the midst of the census discussion, which included a lineage of the tribes, there is a discussion of those who challenged Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership, and the dissenters’ subsequent punishment, and their family members who were not a part of Korah’s cohorts.  Notice the blatant separation of good and evil involved in the census. 

            After the census, there is a discussion of the daughters of Zelophehad, and their claim to their fathers’ inheritance.  This leads to a discussion on Adonai’s rules of inheritance.  Next, we have a detailed devision of Canaan amongst the tribes, and the focus on fairness.  Note, they haven’t yet gone into Canaan.  Seemingly out of nowhere, we are let in on Adonai’s commandment to Moses to ascend to the top of Mount Abiram, where he will die before going into Canaan, and why Moses cannot enter the land.  Moses prays to G-d to allow him to appoint a successor before he dies, and Adonai tells Moses to appoint Joshua.  We then are told of the ceremony of Joshua’s appointment.

        Note that although Moses heard all Adonai told him directly, Joshua was told to always go to Elazar, now the high priest, or Kohen Gadol, and have Elazar consult the Urim and Tumim before doing anything of consequence, as the Urim and Tumim were the way Adonai would make his desires known. 

        The parashah doesn’t end here though, it goes on to tell us Moses, after Joshua’s induction as leader, gives the Israelites a review of how to perform all of the sacrifices, the different types, and all holy days and festivals, new moon ceremonies, and of course, Shabbat.  It is through this speech we are told details about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, not only our holiest days of the year, but also note they are days set aside each year for repentance, forgiveness, and redemption.

        The entirety of this parashah may appear chaotic to some.  What do these stories all have in common?  Adonai should always be the first and most important thought one has.  Yes, we must separate good from evil, as Adonai wants, and clearly we are to act for the betterment of ourselves, our families, communities, and all others.  Yes, we must act this way even when we risk punishment by our fellow human beings for doing the right thing.  In responding to evil, we must act quickly, with a level head, and not out of anger, but to block it from spreading to others.

        We are taught here it is incumbent upon us to secure our children’s futures, for both our sons and our daughters.  If we are in a leadership position, be it in a company we own, or another type of leadership, we must think of those who will be left behind and secure a predecessor to take our place when we are gone, so that we don’t leave those who depend on us in a state of chaos.  Sometimes war is a necessary action, but only to stop evil, and always remembering to serve Adonai, and protect those who are our religious and spiritual leaders.  This will ensure, after the chaos of war, society will continue to place Adonai first.  Also, society should be built and maintained with love, peace, fairness, and justice, because Adonai wants us to act goodly.  We have a choice between good and evil, right and wrong, but Adonai wants us to choose G-d and good.

            Societies who go to war with hatred and vengeance won’t succeed in the end.  Of course, they will take some good people down in the process, but when their goal is self-serving, they raise their children with hatred in their hearts, thus they won’t ever actually win.  The proof, time and again throughout history, is they have never won.

            Adonai should always be first in our minds and hearts.  Never forget, even though things seem chaotic, and evil propagates and spreads, and it may even seem to have an advantage, but there will always be light.  The light will win out.  The light will shine even brighter if we learn lessons about how not to act from our experiences in the darkness.

            Shabbat Shalom!  I wish you joy, love, peace and harmony, justice and fairness, and most of all, a place in the light of Adonai’s countenance.  I’d love to know what you think!