Parashas Pinchas

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Pinchas . This Parsha continues on from the previous Parsha where Pinchas had courageously gone into the Camp of Simeon and pierced both the leader of Simeon Zimri ben Salu and the Midianitess Cozbi daughter of Zur , who was " the head of the peoples of a father's house in Midian , " when the Midianite females were put to entice our men to idol worship and Zimri had brought this Midianitess woman past Moshe's Tent , and taken her into his own tent to be with her . HaShem's Anger had flared up at the actions of those who had fallen for this deceitful guise to catch our men , and HaShem Had Sent a Plague . When Pinchas courageously went into the Camp of Simeon , putting his own life at risk , and pierced both Zimri and Cozbi , in honor of HaShem and Moshe , his teacher , the Plague stopped . Thus Pinchas had saved Israel , from HaShem's Wrath . In fact this Cozbi , the Midianitess , was actually sent to try and entice Moshe , but he would not have anything to do with this woman at all , and so , did Zimri , come and take Cozbi , himself and bring her into his tent . 
Pinchas was the son of Elazar , Aharon's son and thus Pinchas was Aharon's holy grandson .Pinchas had stopped the plague that had already killed 24 000 . How interesting that this is the same amount of people that died , in the time of Rabbi Akiva's followers , that were his students , that we remember during the Omer Period , between Pesach and Rosh Chodesh Sivan . But did the people thank Pinchas , for saving them ? No , They complained and accused him of committing murder , in killing the leader of Simeon . In fact , they even said that Pinchas is , ' the grandson of one who fattened calves sacrificed to idols . ' Where did they so wrongly get such a terrible insult from ? Pinchas' Father , as I said , was Elazar , the son of Aharon , and Elazar , had , like Moshe , married one of Yisro's daughters . Yisro , was , a former priest of Midian , and he had also been known as " Putiel , " where ' Puti-eil ' , means ' one fattened for a god . ' And this is where the people got their horrible insult from , but Pinchas was a very Holy man . How interesting , that it was Pinchas , whose Mother was originally a Midianite , was the one to stand totally against their unholy harlotry and stop the plague . This is true Holiness . 
This is where our Parsha comes in . Because Pinchas had turned back HaShem's Wrath on the Children of Israel , when he had zealously avenged HaShem among the sinners and so , HaShem Did Not Consume the Children of Israel . So HaShem Said to Moshe , That HaShem Gives Pinchas , HaShem's Covenant Of Peace , for Pinchas had made Peace between HaShem and Israel , and so , would Pinchas Be Forever Blessed , as the Harbinger Of Peace , and this meant too , that Pinchas would be Blessed with a very long life , and would return as the very Holy Navi Prophet Eliyahu Elijah , who also brought Peace between HaShem and the people , when he stood on Mount Carmel , and had the people choose to either follow HaShem Faithfully , or take the wrong path , and go down , with the followers of the idol baal , the same baal , that the Midianites in the time of Pinchas , had been enticed to prostate themselves to . Elijah , had stood up for HaShem , when the followers of baal , were taught a lesson . This same soul of Pinchas Elijah will be the Harbinger of Moshiach , and a time of total peace in Moshiach's time , where he will return at the End of Days ( as it says in Malachi 3: 23 ) and announce Moshiach's True Coming , and again make peace in families , by turning " the heart of the Fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their Fathers . " I also find it interesting that in a Chumash , there is a sign above the Yud in Pinchas' name in this Sedra Bamidbar Numbers 25 : 10 and a sign above the Vav in the word " Shalom " in this Parsha in Bamidbar Numbers 25 : 12 , and if you add the Yud and Vav Gematrically , it comes to 10 + 6 = 16 and 1 + 6 = 7 , the number of Moshiach , where Eliyahu Ha Navi , will come before Moshiach as the Harbinger of Moshiach , who will usher in Eternal Peace , where that word " Shalom " in this discussion means " Peace " with Pinchas ' who will be Eliyahu Ha Navi , who is the Prophet who ushers in and so annoints Moshiach , where these two words here , are connected by the same sign above them . Pinchas was one of the two spies , with Kaleiv , whom Yehoshuah Joshuah sent into Yericho Jericho , to spy out , and they were both saved by Rachav . Pinchas was still alive well into the time of the Children of Israel living in Israel , and HaShem Gave Pinchas , His Blessing Of Protection . 
Because of the actions of Midian , who not only tried to attack us physically , but went even further and tried to separate us from HaShem Spiritually , by getting us to sin , so did HaShem Instruct Moshe that we were to " Harrass and Smite " them , which meant a continuing mind set against them and to destroy them in war . It was in this war , that Bilaam , who had started the idea of the Midianite women trying to entice us away from HaShem , was killed , by Pinchas himself . HaShem Then Asks for a census to be taken . This is just before we are coming to the Land , and thus , the main purpose of this census , was for distribution by lot of the Land . The Levites again were counted separately . 
It was after this census to do with the Land , that the daughters of Tzelafchad , from the family Tribe of Manasseh came before Moshe . Apportioning of Tribal Land , was to go to the sons , and here , Tzelafchad , was no longer , for he had passed away , in his own Aveirah ( The Rabbonim say that this was either as one of the people who had still wanted to go into the land after the incident of the Spies , that were killed , when Moshe warned them not to go , or the Rabbis feel , he could have been the one gathering on the Shabbos ) . Tzelafchad had no sons , but only five daughters Machlah , Noah , Hoglah , Milkah and Tirtzah . They had remained unmarried , for they were very holy , and chose to wait , even till they were in their 40's , rather than to just marry anyone , for they were very holy and put their own needs aside , to rather await holy partners and offspring . They first approached the leader of tens to ask if they could inherit , for their were no sons , but the leader of tens could not answer . They had to bring the same query to the leader of fifties and then the leader of hundreds and then thousands , right up the line , but none could give an answer , and so , the matter finally came before Moshe himself , for they didn't want their Father's inheritance to be lost within their Tribe . Some of our Rabbis feel that Moshe knew the answer to this , but humbly bowed to HaShem's Wisdom . Other Rabbinical opinions say that because Moshe had once said , " all difficult matters bring to me , " he was made to forget the answer to this and so , he approached HaShem . This is the same with Dovid Ha Melech , who also was made to forget something , in fact two points , and had to approach Achitophel , when David incorrectly put the Ark on a humble wagon , from which the incident took place where it was caught by Uzzah . Also , where David incorrectly counted the men . So , here Moshe brought the claim of Tzelafchad's daughters before HaShem . HaShem Merciful , Fair In Judgement and Beautiful , Said that the daughters of Tzelafchad speak properly , and that where there are no sons , then the inheritance will pass over to his daughters . Tzelafchad's daughters married holy men from their own Tribe and so was their inheritance kept within their Tribe .This showed , that HaShem Had Forgiven Tzelafchad , for his family line was still allowed a portion of the Land and so , Moshe thought that maybe , HaShem Might Forgive Moshe too and Allow him entry into the Land , and so did Moshe ask again if he could enter the Land , but HaShem Said No , and so , asked Moshe to go up the Mountain of Abarim and see the Land , That HaShem Would Give To the Children of Israel , and so , Moshe's reason for seeing the Land from afar , was so that he would put his holy Blessings upon it . 
Holy Moshe , again put himself second , and HaShem and our people first , when he straight away asked for a holy successor , that would be a ' Man ' in other words holy and worthy in holiness , one who could be called a Mensch , a Man of honor , totally following HaShem . Moshe Asked for a man who would " go out before them and come in before them , " a leader like him , who would not just sit at home and let his troops go off to war , but one like Moshe , who would also go into battle with his people , like Dovid Ha Melech did . Also , a man that " goes out before them and comes in before them " is one who speaks for them to HaShem , standing before them to gain compassion for them and forgiveness if need be , for them . One who can stand before them going out and coming in before them , is as one who can stand before them as a shining example of Torah Mitzvos , to teach and lead them by Holy Example , one who emulates HaShem , that can stand before HaShem for them , as a most holy man . And so , HaShem Told Moshe to take Yehoshuah ," a man in whom there is Spirit , " which means a man who has earned the keeping of HaShem's Spirit Within him . HaShem Asked Moshe to stand Yehoshuah ( a man who every morning and evening , would arrange the benches for studying and praying , the whole of the forty years in the Wilderness ) before Elazar the Kohein ( Aharon's son ) and before the entire assembly , and command him before their eyes , placing some of his ( Moshe's ) majesty upon him , which was for Moshe , who was like a candle that doesn't lose any of it's light , by lighting other candles , but only increases the light surrounding things , not a decreasing of his light , Given By HaShem , For Moshe's Humble Holy Actions . But it will be Elazar the Kohein , whom he shall stand before , in inquiring when needed and allowed ,of the judgement of the Urim before HaShem , where , at his word shall they come in , he and all the Children of Israel . HaShem Had Only Asked Moshe to place one hand upon Yehoshuah , but Moshe in total selflessness , that he would be giving up his own leadership , still selflessly and in an act of total selfless giving , placed both his hands on Yehoshuah " and commanded him , as HaShem Had Spoken Through Moshe . "
HaShem then Speaks to Moshe about the Tamid Daily Offerings to be made two a day , one in the morning and one in the afternoon , which today , is our Davening times . HaShem Also Discusses the Mussaf Additional Offerings for the Shabbos Mussaf , and the offerings and libations of Rosh Chodesh New Moon , Pesach , Shavuos , Rosh HaShanah , Yom Kippur , Succos and Shemini Atzeres . Torah also Teaches of the Laws within these Festivals . Shemini Atzeres is looked upon as an extra festival , for us Jews alone , to stay as a special guest one more day with HaShem , where HaShem Likes us to stay close and not leave , where , during the previous days of Succos , we made offerings for the 70 nations , where each day of Succos we offered a certain amount of bulls , which , at the end of the Succos Festival ends up totalling 70 , the exact amount of Nations in the World , thus the nations that killed us through the centuries , were actually hurting themselves , where they were stopping us making offerings on their behalf . We also notice that during the time of Succos , the amount of lambs offered daily never dimished , which represented us as lambs to the World's treatment of us , showing that no matter what the nations do to us , we will survive , unlike the amount of bulls offered which diminished every day of the Festival , during the days of the Succos Festival , which represented the other nations , showing that they can diminish but we never will . 
The Parsha ends With HaShem Saying In His Torah , " Moshe said to the Children of Israel according to everything that HaShem Had Commanded Moshe . " Seeing as this year like most years , this Parsha of Pinchas comes after the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz , the Haftorah we read is for Parsha Mattos , which is one of the three Haftorahs read about prophecies relating to the destruction of the Holy Temple , which occurs at the end of these three weeks , on Tisha B'Av , the Ninth Of Av , the three weeks of mourning , starting on the 17th of Tammuz . This Haftorah is in Yirmiyah Jeremiah 1 :1 - 2 : 3 . 
In this Parsha of Pinchas in the Torah , we note that within Pinchas' name , the letter Yud is made smaller than the other letters around it . This can show , that HaShem , Whose Name can also start with a Yud , was so taken by Pinchas' action on His Behalf , that Even HaShem Felt Humbled by this beautiful zealous action of faithfulness and love . And so , HaShem Made the letter of His Name smaller , than the other letters around it , in the name of Pinchas . Also , The Letter Yud of HaShem's Name , HaShem Thus Highlights within Pinchas's name , by making it another size compared to the letters around it , to show , that Pinchas Truly took HaShem and HaShem's Will , within him , so wherever Pinchas would go , he would carry HaShem within and also that whatever action Pinchas would make , would be for the love of HaShem and for the honor of HaShem . The true actions of a very holy Tzaddik . 
With the Yud smaller , it almost makes it look like the word ' Panchas , ' where that can be made into two words ' Paneh ' and ' Chasah , ' where ' Paneh ' - means ' Face ' and can refer to the Face Of HaShem , and the word ' Chasah ' ( Zilberman dictionary ) means ' Trust or Shelter , ' thus showing that Pinchas' action , showed total Trust in HaShem and taking total Shelter in HaShem , and thus standing in holiness and earning the right to stand before HaShem's Face . Such an action for HaShem's Honor , is truly one of love and holiness .
When we put our own feelings aside and do as HaShem Wills us to , we fulfill Torah and HaShem's Wish For Creation . Such an Action , of Trust in HaShem , brings us closer to HaShem . This Closeness , to HaShem , Brings us into the ' Shelter ' of His Wings and Ever Loving Care , and HaShem Shows us His Love and Turns His ' Face ' To us in Love . This is exactly what happened with Pinchas , who was Blessed By HaShem and Pinchas was made a Kohein . The Kohanim are constantly doing HaShem's Service and bringing Peace , via the Offerings , between HaShem and us . The Kohanim were brought into the Priesthood , from Aharon and his sons , but here , Pinchas earned the right of being a Priest , by his very action , that made peace , between HaShem and us . Pinchas , on his own , stood up , amid the congregation , and took it upon himself , to do the right thing . Such an action is certainly one of the Utmost Holiness . This is how we should all be , even if we are the only ones who , among others doing wrong , stand up and do the right thing . This is similar to the action of Noach , who alone , stood against an entire World of wrong , and faithfully followed HaShem . There is still so much wrong that people do , in the World . We must , even if we stand alone , as Hillel said in Pirkei Avos , ' where there are no leaders , strive to be a leader , ' be like Pinchas , and work for HaShem , in correcting the World , leading It to Holiness . As Hillel said , we must work to bring people closer to The Torah . That is what a Kohein does , for they were our teachers of Torah . This is what Pinchas did , and so , in standing up and correcting what is wrong that is around us ,even if we are standing alone , this is what we must do . We are all Agents and Malachim Messengers of HaShem . We all have this obligation to correct the World . If we see something we don't like , then we must stand up and correct it . If we see others not following HaShem's Holy Torah , then we must stand up and correct it . If we don't feel we know enough to do that , then we are obligated to learn all we can in Torah , so we can be leaders among others who are drifting aimlessly in the wind with no direction , helping them find the Way to HaShem . 
It does not matter what some others might think of you . What matters most , is What HaShem Thinks Of you . That is what is most important . That is what counts . So go out there , under the Shelter of HaShem , in Trust of HaShem , and make this World a Better Holier Place , where Only HaShem Is Followed , and where Only HaShem's Laws Are Followed . That is your task . That is your path . That is your way for others . That is who you were Made To be . That is who is Pinchas . That is true Peace and Commitment tp HaShem . That is True Faith And Love in HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu HaShem The Holy One Blessed Be He . 
I wish HaShem With Deepest Love , A Most Special Shabbos Kodesh With All my Love , and to all my fellow Jews and to all of Creation , a Most Special Shabbos Kodesh with love .