Moments

The Torah Portion Pinchas is a study of the moment.

With moments, we might wax poetically. After all, moments are the moments in which something special happens. This something special happens in time. Thus, it is a moment.

We, however, does not have to engage in such frivolity to make a point. Rather, the events in Pinchas connects readers to an intimate understanding of moments. In Pinchas, we learn of two types of moments- the spontaneous and the planned.

The Portion Pinchas

The spontaneous moment of Pinchas is a reference to an event from the prior Torah Portion Balak. Eleazar, Aaron the Priest’s son, in Balak, had taken a spear to simultaneously kill both Israelite man and a Midianite woman. Richard Elliott Friedman commented that this provocative act. He noted that this violent act should be observed in the terms of a “ritual” violation rather than an ethical violation.

In the case of Eleazar instance, his actions were taken upon a violation that took place in a holy location. Thus, unlike an ethical matter which there would involve a trial and an inquiry of motive, guilt is irrelevant. Commentary at P. 513. The Hebrew Bible offers other instances in which individuals has died simply by touching a holy object.

The Portion Pinchas begins with the Lord being pleased with Eleazar’s spontaneous “zealous” act. The Lord was impressed. As a result, he would not maintain his anger against the Children of Israel. Numbers 25:11.

Later on in Pinchas, we read about a planned moment. This moment is to be a ceremony. A ceremony which was seismically as important as Eleazar’s spontaneous moment. The ceremony involved a leadership change for the Children of Israel. At Numbers 25:17, Moses, instructed by the Israelite Deity, was to lay hands on Joshua, a man with spirit, in order transfer the nation’s leadership. This act, installing Joshua as the future leader, was performed before the entire congregation. Joshua- a spirited individual was one with charisma and who was inspirational.

Thus, we see that both spontaneous and planned moments can impact a nation. An individual’s actions has the capacity to impact the future of a country as much as an orchestrated one involving pomp and circumstance. The two moments share the fact that they both involve powerful emotions. One involved zeal with the other involved spirit. Thus, moments often have an emotional component.

Mastering the Moment

This notion was not lost upon leaders when addressing the Ten Commandments. They understood that there was a need to create a generational connection to the events at Mt. Sinai. The Decalogue’s deliverance as an emotion-packed moment needed to be sustained. Confronted with this challenge, a Midrash was offered up that all souls, even future ones, were present at Mt. Sinai. Thus, the sensational emotion packed moment of the past is one upon which all could embrace. Yitro, Siman 11

Conclusion

In sum, the Portion Pinchas teaches about the moment. The take way from Pinchas is that one is able to create a moment. A moment can be created by evoking powerful emotions. One way of doing so is the incorporation of music to an event or happening. Sporting events, graduation ceremonies and weddings and use music to tug at the participants’ emotions.

Be well!!

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