Pinchas was destined to
take over from Moshe and become the next leader of the Jewish People.
He acted
with zealous incentive when he took a spear and killed Zimri and Cozbi, who both
exemplified the mass sin which brought about a plague which destroyed 24 000
people.
As a result of his zealotry the plague was halted and Pinchas was
hailed the hero.[1]
But the Kotzker Rebbe
said:
“Moshe did not agree to this (the
populist sentiment hailing Pinchas as a future leader), because...although he did a great (and necessary) deed...and averted a plague from the
Jewish People - nonetheless Moshe said; ‘A fanatic should never be a leader of Israel.’...It
was for this reason that Moshe then asked G-d to appoint a new (and more tempered) leader for them.”[2]
A fanatic, even if he or
she is right, should never be allowed to lead!
No comments:
Post a Comment