Moral Certainty in an Immoral World

I used to struggle with the story of Pinchas but have come to admire him for his unwavering confidence in the righteousness of his actions and his unquestioning dedication to them. The clarity of knowing what is right and wrong is a rare trait that many of us struggle to grasp. Life is inherently ambiguous, where disputes often reside in the murky shades of uncertainty. Clear distinctions between right and wrong are seldom apparent, and nuances often erode commitments to a singular position.

Pinchas possesses moral certainty and sees beyond the immediate. Recognizing the long-term impact of present actions, he witnesses Zimri, a prominent Israelite leader, engaging with Cozbi, daughter of a Midianite chief. Without hesitation, Pinchas acts, wielding his spear against them despite their high rank. As Rav Yitzchak says about Pinchas in the name of Rabbi Eliezer in Sanhedrin (82a):

 ראה שבא מלאך והשחית בעם

He saw that an angel came and destroyed among the people.

Rabbi Eliezer understood Pinchas was safeguarding against moral laxity and idolatry, understanding these as threats to God’s commands and the well-being of our people. 

Our society encourages open-mindedness and non-judgmental attitudes, which are commendable traits. However, this can also lead to a ‘anything goes’ mentality that may justify questionable ethics. While the ability to see both sides of an issue is valued, it can unintentionally obscure one’s own moral compass. Without clearly defined morals, individuals become vulnerable to committing and tolerating even the most heinous acts. As it says in Isaiah (5:20): 

ה֣וֹי הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לָרַ֛ע ט֖וֹב וְלַטּ֣וֹב רָ֑ע שָׂמִ֨ים חֹ֤שֶׁךְ לְאוֹר֙ וְא֣וֹר לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְ שָׂמִ֥ים מַ֛ר לְמָת֖וֹק וּמָת֥וֹק לְמָֽר

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who present darkness as light and light as darkness; who present bitter as sweet and sweet as bitter!

This is the world we see today: acceptance and even praise for the brutalities of butchering, raping, torturing thousands of civilians, and kidnapping hundreds, all under the guise of resistance where everything is justified. Jews worldwide face baseless accusations of genocide, irrespective of their nationality. Strangely, acceptance and tolerance are only extended to a side that exhibits extreme intolerance, while the liberal democratic side is vilified. Somewhere along the way, the notion of being open-minded and accepting has been misapplied universally, blurring our ability to distinguish right from wrong.

The prevailing paradigm promotes tolerance and open-mindedness, which is a beautiful and honorable model for co-existing in a diverse world. However, it is important to recognize that not all ideas are equal or valid, and thus cannot be approached with equal tolerance and open-mindedness. Doctrines advocating the murder, repression, and abuse of entire populations based on their gender, sexuality, or other characteristics are intolerable. Ideologies that are inherently closed-minded cannot be accepted within our domain. As we learn in Mishle (17:15)

מַצְדִּ֣יק רָ֭שָׁע וּמַרְשִׁ֣יעַ צַדִּ֑יק תּוֹעֲבַ֥ת יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ 

To acquit the guilty and convict the innocent— both are an abomination to the LORD. 

Seldom in life are issues as starkly defined as they are in the current conflict in Gaza. A terrorist organization has breached a sovereign nation, massacring thousands of civilians and holding hundreds hostage. They exploit civilian populations and humanitarian areas, denying access for humanitarian aid checks. For nearly two decades, they have inflicted brutality upon their own people and launched repeated rocket attacks and suicide bombings into Israel. Moreover, they openly vow to repeat past atrocities if given the chance. Despite this clear aggression, the world, and alarmingly, some misguided Jewish organizations, stand in solidarity with terrorists.

This is our Pinchas moment. Today, right and wrong are starkly defined, leaving no room for shades of gray. Rarely in life do we encounter challenges so morally clear-cut, demanding unwavering confidence in our actions. We must stand with our people and with Israel, unequivocally opposing terrorism and hate. Furthermore, we must reject voices within our community that seek to excuse or equivocate Hamas’ actions. There is no space for them to manipulate our moral principles. We cannot tolerate the intolerable, accept the unacceptable, or entertain antisemitism with open-mindedness.

Pinchas understood the danger of turning a blind eye to Zimri and Cozbi. He was not tolerant or open-minded, he was resolute in defending our people. We must act with that same fortitude and certainty in the face of the danger facing us today. We must stand united and strike a blow against those who would destroy us. In a time when the world has lost its moral compass the Jewish people must hold fast to ours. Now we must all be Pinchas, confident that our actions are right and good, and with an unquestioning commitment to our people.