Pinchas


Our Torah portion deals with two dramatic instances of individual passion and initiative. One, the initiative of Pinhas, was recounted in last week’s portion. Pinhas’ act is a violent reaction at a moment of crisis. It averts a national disaster. The beginning of this week’s reading gives God’s reaction to Pinhas’ act.  The second act of initiative is that of the daughters of a man called Tzlof’had. Their story is begun this week and continues into next week’s reading. 

In both of these cases an individual or a small group of individuals does something unbidden by the rules of their society at that moment. The repercussion of Pinhas’ initiative is that Pinhas is given special recognition and a special mission, to be the bearer of God’s “Covenant of Peace.” But, in truth, since Pinhas was already in direct priestly line from Aaron, his new status had little effect on the community or on the future of the Jewish people.  

The case of the daughters of Tzlof’had is different. Their initiative was not a violent response to a crisis. Rather, it was a personal appeal to the powers that be to rectify what they saw to be a flaw in the Torah’s system. They challenge the one-sided inheritance laws that had been issued by God, through Moses, whereby only males could inherit estates.

 

 

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