Pinchas: Zeal for the Sake of Peace
The Torah praises Pinchas for stopping a public act of sin, but Rabbi Breitowitz explains that such an act is only justified if done with complete sincerity — not out of anger, pride, or hate. Halachically, this rare situation is known as kana’im pog’in bo, but it’s not a law to be taught or encouraged. Pinchas acted without asking permission, driven by a deep sense of responsibility, not personal satisfaction.
The Torah emphasizes Pinchas’s lineage — “ben Elazar, ben Aharon HaKohen” — to remind us that his nature was not violent. Like Aharon, he loved peace. His act of zeal was actually motivated by a desire to restore peace between Hashem and the Jewish people. This explains why Hashem rewarded him with a brit shalom — a covenant of peace.
The Dangers of Zealotry
Zealousness, even when justified, carries spiritual risks. Rabbi Breitowitz discusses four key dangers:
- Losing sight of Am Yisrael’s goodness – Like Eliyahu HaNavi, a person who constantly sees faults can lose faith in others.
- Avoiding self-reflection – It’s easier to blame others for the state of the world than to look at our own flaws.
- Spiritual consequences – Even justified harm, like fire, leaves a mark on the one who inflicts it.
- Righteous arrogance – Sins done in the name of Heaven are hardest to recognize and repent for.
These risks help explain why even someone like Eliyahu was “replaced” after declaring his zeal without hope for the people. The true goal of zeal is not condemnation, but healing.
Mourning and Redemption
Rabbi Breitowitz also reminds us that Tisha B’Av is not only a day of mourning. It’s also the day on which Moshiach is born. In older Ashkenazi traditions, poems of redemption (Nechamos) were read after the Kinos, connecting pain with hope. The shiur closes with heartfelt tefillah for the safety of Am Yisrael and a call for unity — not just in words, but in our middot and our willingness to judge favorably.