Parshat Pinchas-"Should I stay or Should I Go?"

Parshat Pinchas

Reb Mosheleh was a shoemaker in a small town in Europe. In his great distress he goes over to his rebbe to ask him how to break it to his wife that he had lost his job and that their family’s financial situation was as fragile as glass. Pesach (Passover) was coming along and Mosheleh grew distressed and weary. “How am I supposed to give my whole family all the things they need for the holiday? I’m broke! (Maybe he didn’t say it like that but, use your imagination) Rebbe, I need inspiration! I need to know everything will be OK. I need a sign. I need Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet). His Rebbe then gives him explicit instruction assuring Mosheleh that his wife and five kids will be in good hands for Pesach. The Rebbe tells Mosheleh, “go to the town of Matzah and you will see a huge willow tree, and under that big willow tree you will see a hut and in that hut you will find Eliyahu Hanavi. The Rebbe then gives him a Carriage filled with matzah, meat, wine, and the works.

Mosheleh then goes on this three day journey to matzah. He was told when he encounters the people in the hut to say he was staying for Pesach. To his surprise when he knocked on the door, a young married couple stood in torn clothes and dirty faces, “I am here for Pesach” Mosheleh said. They welcomed him in with open arms and he had a great time filled with dance, drink and simcha. Upon return to his native city Mosheleh goes back to his rebbe and states: “I had a great time, no doubt. But you told me I would find Eliyahu Hanavi!” “Go back” the rebbe retorts. “Go back?! I missed the holiday with family I travelled for days and now you want me to do it again?!” “Yes” the Rebbe stammered. The journey continued and he set back to Matzah. In the distance he sees the willow tree, and under the tree, there is a hut and in that hut supposedly he would find his courage and inspiration to continue his job search. As he was about to knock on the door he hears the couple conversing. “Dovid, I don’t get it this man came out of nowhere! We had absolutely nothing! I thought we were not going to have any food for Pesach, but then he came!” Dovid then says to Michal, “you know what, he must have been Eliyahu Hanavi!” and before he knocks on the door he smiles and gets back in his carriage and drives home.

It’s an amazing thing for all of us to admit, that every single one of us needs inspiration. Teachers have teachers, students have students. Sometimes we go across the world to find “inspiration”, but in actuality that inspiration is us. It’s important for us to realize, that even if we do feel as if we are inadequate, or low, we too are Eliyahu to somebody. We too have the power to inspire. It’s clear that being Eliyahu Hanavi is a hard test, but to know from the depths of you that you have a role far greater than the person beside you. Not greater because it’s better than the others, but greater because its only for you! Sometimes in life we have moments that we could have put our input and actions into, but sometimes we says to ourselves “who am I? How can save anybody? Me?! Being inspiration? Someone else will do it.”

“ When he zealously avenged my vengeance among them… And it shall be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal priesthood because he took vengeance for his G-d, and he atoned for the Children of Israel (25:11-13).”

We read of a story from the end of last week’s Torah portion juxtaposed into this week’s Torah portion. This week the Torah speaks of a man named Pinchas. Pinchas sees Zimri a Jew entering a tent with Kozbi a Midianite. This was a disgrace in G-ds name and Pinchas acted. He speared both through the stomach and consequently the plague that was killing tens of thousands ceased.

Sometimes in life we say that we cannot do big things. That those sort of things aren’t meant for someone like me.

We learn from Pinchas that we, you and I, have the power to change anything! To recognize that we each have the power to move mountains and stop suffering for those in need, is the first step. We all have the power to change and we all have responsibility to inspire, but one needs to ask himself, “should I stay or should I go?” will I try to make a difference, will I give my best to those when they need me, or will I say “eh, someone else will do it.” We each play a role that is priceless and different to the others around us. Don’t chase other people’s dreams, chase your own. Be for you only to grow so you can give to those who get. With quickness and courage these days of yearning will turn into days of Joy and redemption. Inspire those around you even with a smile. Who was Eliyahu in the end? YOU!

This week I will try to: Recognize my potential to blossom into someone who can help the redpemtion process. To realize that to someone I am Eliyahu HaNavi. To someone, I am the inspiration, and with that, I must grow to be the biggest inspiration as I can. I will use the insight of Pinchas to recognize that sometimes we need to make a quick decision in confidence in order to help the greater unit. This week I will try to remember and fully feel that I to play a vital role in the Jewish people and I to have my own puzzle piece to offer! The question is, do you want your puzzle piece to be the one who fell in the ketchup and is soggy with the baby’s mouth, or do you want it to be the one with all the colors? Reach for the stars and long for the Rebuilding of the Third temple.

Shabbat Shalom!