By Rabbi Dovid Markel
This week’s parsha, Pinchas, expresses something that is perhaps difficult for our modern minds to digest. The modern world-view of political correctness and individual choices cannot absorb the fanaticism and zealotry of Pinchas.
Indeed, as the Talmud (Sanhedrin 82a) expresses, Pinchas’s actions were not mandated by Jewish law: “If he comes to take counsel, we do not instruct him to do so.” It was religious zeal and fanaticism that spurned Pinchas-not halacha.
Not only would we frown upon such actions, but then too the tribes taunted him, saying that he was not driven by dedication to G-d, but it was in his nature to be a fanatic. They continued, saying, that this was also the nature of his grandfather Yisro, who as well zealously fattened cows for the service of idolatry.
Instead of coming to Pinchas’s defense, they were politically correct and defended the actions of Yisro, saying that his actions must be understood in context and the like.
All too often, we do the same. Rather than speaking the truth and being branded-G-d forbid-as a religious fundamentalist or a fanatic, we often take the easier approach minimizing the severity of sins or being afraid to call a spade a spade.
So, when an individual “dares” to say that Judaism must be defined by Torah, and that the Judaism of reformers in their content and even in their members who falsely label themselves as Judaism are merely a charade but are patently not Jewish-instead of defending these statements, we denounce the individual who speaks as such.
While indeed the Talmud (Eiruvin 19a) expresses that a Jew is a Jew no matter what, and that all Jews are full of good deeds like a pomegranate is full of seeds, nevertheless, this is in spite of Reform, not because of it. For although the person’s entire identity may be completely contrary to Torah, in his essence the soul of every Jew screams G-d.
However, just as Pinchas’s actions were to decry the terrible atrocity of intermarriage, in that it takes holy Jewish seed and transforms it into something unholy, we should not be ashamed to say that a movement that embraces intermarriage and other actions against Judaism, is patently un-Jewish.
So, while a Jew, who happens to be of the Reform persuasion is most definitely a Jew, it is important to be clear that “Reform Judaism” is not at all Judaism.
Indeed the verse (Bamidbar 25:12) expresses that his actions were actually a favor for the Jewish people not the reverse.
For, by clear about black and white, one prevents a much greater catastrophe of the destruction of the Jewish people.
Only through unabashed statements concerning “who is a Jew” can we truly guarantee the continuity of the Jewish people.
May we indeed merit to the complete health of the Jewish corpus with the coming of Moshiach-Now!
