Parashat Pinchas & The Three Weeks: Lessons in Leadership for Rebuilding

Good morning, everyone.

As we find ourselves in the solemn period of the Three Weeks, and read Parashat Pinchas, I've been seeking a message to bring positivity into our lives and help us rebuild the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple). I believe Parashat Pinchas offers powerful lessons in leadership. Not just for public figures, but for each of us in leading our own lives. We are our own leaders, making daily decisions, defining our values, and setting our goals. What can we learn?

This Dvar Torah is dedicated l'Iluy Nishmat (as a merit for the soul) of my dear uncle, Shmuel ben Moishe, who passed away many years ago without children. May this bring an Aliyah (elevation) to his neshamah as his Yahrzeit falls this week.

1. Fighting for Priorities: The Peace of Conviction (Pinchas)

When Hashem rewards Pinchas, it's with a "Covenant of Peace" (Briti Shalom). We might view Pinchas's act as extreme, yet Hashem teaches that sometimes, fighting for what is right, for your deepest priorities, is the greatest path to peace. It brings peace of mind and fulfillment.

• Beyond Tears: While Moshe and Aharon cried in despair, Hashem desired someone to act. Crying and devastation are not enough when Torah values are at stake. When you know something is right, act. This proactive stance brings Shalom into your life.

2. Setting Future Goals: Wisdom and Persistence (Daughters of Tzelafchad)

The daughters of Tzelafchad, upon hearing about the land distribution, didn't resign themselves to fate despite their father having no sons. They took a moment of leadership, using their wisdom and intelligence to think about their family's future.

• Don't Just Accept Fate: They didn't simply say, "It's sad, there's nothing we can do." Instead, "Vatikravna" – "They came forward" with their questions to Moshe Rabbeinu. Hashem wanted this question asked, teaching us that when we seek to achieve something, we must not be embarrassed to ask, to pursue solutions. This is how we build the future. Leadership isn't just about the present; it's about setting clear, meaningful goals for the future and striving to attain them.

3. Empathy and Humility: True Spirit (Yehoshua)

When Moshe asks Hashem for a new leader, Hashem chooses Yehoshua: "Ish Asher Ruach Bo" – "a man of spirit." Yehoshua was unassuming, a Ba'al Anavah (humble person), who constantly learned and served Moshe without seeking recognition.

• Beyond Dignity: He would arrange seating, be the first to arrive and last to leave, never feeling anything was "below his dignity." True leadership isn't about honor; it's about doing what needs to be done.

• "Man of Spirit" - Empathy: The Midrash explains "a man of spirit" as someone with deep understanding and empathy for others. To lead, we must listen, understand, and show tolerance. The Chafetz Chaim taught we have two ears and one mouth for a reason: listen more, speak less. This quality of empathy is crucial for leading a meaningful life and connecting with others, even when we feel others are "wrong."

4. Daily Expectations: Guarding Our Constants (Korbanot)

The final section of the Parasha discusses the Korbanot, especially the Korban Tamid (daily offering). "Tishmeru L'Hakriv et Karbani B'Mo'ado" – "You shall guard to bring My offering in its appointed time."

• "Tishmeru" - Live with Expectation: The Sefat Emet teaches that "Tishmeru" means more than just not forgetting; it means to look forward to it, to live with expectation. We should anticipate fulfilling our daily spiritual duties, like prayer, with eagerness, just as we anticipate the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash.

• The "Tadir": Daily Values: "Tadir ShebeChenu Tadir" – always prioritize what is done regularly. Our daily values are paramount. The breach in the walls of Yerushalayim on Shiva Asar B'Tammuz is linked to the cessation of the Korban Tamid. Giving up on daily spiritual observances can lead to breaches in our protective walls. We must stick to our daily commitments very carefully.

Nothing is Impossible: The Blind Pole Vaulter

Let me share an inspiring story I heard recently. A young man, whose brothers were Olympic champions and whose father was an Olympic coach, wanted to train for pole vaulting. His father refused, saying he was wasting his time. But the son insisted. He trained relentlessly for two years, against his father's pessimistic advice. In the Olympic finals, facing a bar set three inches higher than he'd ever jumped, his father begged him to settle for silver. But the son insisted on gold. He made the jump. Then, asked to go another two inches higher, his father again pleaded with him to stop. Yet, he jumped again, winning the gold medal. The crucial detail? This young man was blind.

This story teaches us: When you want to achieve something, nothing is impossible. We want the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash. We cannot say it's impossible due to sin, injustice, or current challenges. This year, it can be possible. It is in our hands. If each of us embraces these leadership qualities – fighting for right, setting future goals, acting with empathy and humility, and living daily with expectation and dedication – we can bring about the Binyan HaBayit (building of the Temple) bimhera b'yameinu (speedily in our days).

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a Chodesh Tov! All my love from Antwerp. (2019)