Rabbi Ackerman's Blog
07/10/2009 - Parashat Pinchas
When it comes to storytelling, we tend to prefer tales that have a clear beginning, a well structured middle, and a definitive end. Alas, not all stories come so neatly packaged. The opening lines of Parashat Pinchas provide a superb example. With this week's Torah reading, we pick up the story of Pinchas ben Elazar in the middle. Last week's parashah, Balak, concluded with the narrative that makes Pinchas famous, or infamous, depending on one's perspective. In the midst of a plague affecting the entire people of Israel, Pinchas takes matters into his own hands and brutally attacks two individuals engaged in behavior offensive to Israel and to God. Lo and behold the plague ends. There too ends the parashah.
With a full week to ponder that saga's significance, we finally get to hear the story's conclusion. The Talmudic Rabbis, who divided up the parashiyot artfully and carefully, seem to want us to ponder Pinchas's behavior and to struggle with its ethical content. This week's parashah, which bear's Pinchas's name, raises more questions than it answers. God commends Pinchas for his zealous action and rewards him, perhaps ironically, with brit shalom - an eternal covenant of peace. But there are hints in the text that God is less that fully supportive of Pinchas's choice. There is a sense that the Torah's praise of Pinchas represents God protesting a bit too much; it feels unnaturally over the top. What's more, Pinchas's name is written, since antiquity, with a small yod, an indication of less than complete approval of him.
The larger story, I suggest, relates to an ongoing tension between defending God's honor and protecting the dignity of fellow human beings. Pinchas defends God at the very high price of degrading fellow human beings. One could argue for the necessity of such an approach in certain specific circumstances. As an ongoing life posture, however, is it minimally unpalatable, and, I believe, ultimately unethical. It makes sense to me that that story needs to be broken up in the middle, for our struggle with it is always somewhere in the middle. Carving out an ethical, holy path for ourselves does not, indeed cannot, fit into a neat, well structured package. Life is too messy for such an artificial framework. That, I think, is what Pinchas's story means to teach us.
I find some solace in celebrating my first Shabbat with you at Beth Am Israel with a Torah portion that starts in the middle. The story of this kehillah kedoshah also cannot fit into a neat package of beginning, middle and end. We are certainly not at the very beginning of the road. 85 years of history makes that eminently clear. And I am sure you will agree that we are no where near the end of Beth Am's path. Rather we get to work and grow together in order to write yet more of the middle of the saga, one that I hope will be filled with joy and love, with rich soulful and ethical debates, and with an abiding commitment to k'vod ha'briyot and shalom. If the beginning is the past, and the end is the future, then the middle is the eternal, ongoing, long term present. What a beautiful place to be!
As Shabbat approaches I want to offer words of greeting and gratitude to the BAI family. These past few days have involved a frenzy of unpacking and getting acquainted with new surroundings and workmates. This week has also been filled with warm words - some digital, some in person - of welcome and enthusiasm. I so appreciate your outreach and warmth. I am grateful and very glad to be here. As we prepare to spend the first of many Shabbatot together, I'd like to extend an invitation to you to join me for Shabbat worship, this evening at 6 and tomorrow morning at 9. Our statement of guiding principles indicates that "Shabbat is the center of our community." I'm thrilled to join with you in fulfilling that commitment and aspiration each and every week. There's no time to start like the present. Shabbat Shalom.
B'shalom,
Rabbi David
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09/28/2009 - Yom Kippur Sermon 5770
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09/21/2009 - Rosh Hashanah 2nd Day Sermon 5770
09/21/2009 - Rosh Hashanah First Day Sermon 5770
09/17/2009 - L`shana Tova Tikateivu v`Teihateimu
08/21/2009 - Rosh Hodesh Elul
08/18/2009 - The Torah of Trees
08/14/2009 - Parashat Re`eh
08/05/2009 - Tu B`Av [The 15th of Av]
07/24/2009 - Shabbat Devarim-Hazon
07/17/2009 - Parashat Matot-Masei
07/10/2009 - Parashat Pinchas (Current display)