Parashat Pinchas

The war begun by Balak and Bilaam against Israel is still being waged today. This is the war against the Jewish family, the soul and source of Israel’s strength. Balak and Bilaam conspired to entrap Israel with idol worship and licentiousness. Today, Israel’s enemies kidnap her children and fire missiles into her towns and villages.

Parashat Pinchas contains three responses to the war against the Jewish family: The zealotry of Pinchas, the love of the land of Tzelaphchad’s daughters and the increased sanctity and closeness to G-d engendered by the Shabbat and holiday Musaf (additional) offerings in the Holy Temple.

Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1)
Parashat Pinchas is read on Shabbat:
Tammuz 14, 5774/July 12, 2014

About the Author

Rabbi Chaim Richman is the director of the international department of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. For over three decades the Temple Institute has been dedicated to every aspect of the Biblical commandment to build the Holy Temple. Through its research and educational programming, the Institute seeks to highlight the universal significance of the Holy Temple as a house of peace and prayer for all nations.