04 Jul PARASHAT PINHAS: SERVING G-D UNDER ALL CONDITIONS

Parashat Pinhas is, in
the vast majority of
years, read during the
period of the Three
Weeks, when we begin
observing certain restrictions in solemn
commemoration of the destruction of the
Bet Ha’mikdash.
Rav Abraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta
(1748-1825), in his work Oheb Yisrael,
suggests a connection between this Parasha
and the three-week period we observe
during this time of year. The latter portion
of the Parasha, he notes, lists the special
occasions when a Musaf (“additional”)
sacrifice was to be offered in the Bet
Ha’mikdash. Specifically, this sacrifice
is offered on Shabbat, Rosh Hodesh, the
seven days of Pesach, the day of Shabuot,
the two days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom
Kippur, the seven days of Sukkot, and
Shemini Aseret – a total of 21 days. These
21 days, the Apta Rebbe taught, correspond
to the 21 days of the Three Weeks when
we mourn the destruction of the Bet
Ha’mikdash. Appropriately, then, Parashat
Pinhas is virtually always read towards the
beginning of the Three Weeks.
One approach we might take to explain

this correspondence is that it teaches us a
crucial lesson about our Torah observance
– that it is required under all circumstances,
both in joyous times, and in difficult times.
The 21 festive Yamim Tobim are compared
to the 21 days of solemn reflection on our
national tragedies to remind us that we
are to faithfully serve Hashem under all
conditions, that even in life’s more difficult
periods, we must be strong and resolute,
and retain our devotion to G-d.
We wear Tefillin both on our arms and on
our heads. The Tefillin Shel Rosh, worn on
the top of the head, resembles a crown, and
signifies pride, confidence and prestige. By
contrast, the Tefillin Shel Yad is worn on
the weaker hand (on the left hand if one
is right-handed, on the right hand if one
is left-handed), and thus represents frailty
and vulnerability. We are required to wear
both the Tefillin Shel Rosh and the Tefillin
Shel Yad to remind ourselves that we must
remain committed to Hashem at all times
– both in times of strength, when we are
successful, and in times of weakness, when
we find ourselves beset by troubles and
hardship.
When G-d revealed Himself to Moshe
for the first time at the burning bush,, and

commanded him to return to Egypt and
inform Beneh Yisrael that their redemption
was imminent, He instructed Moshe to tell
the people that “Eh-yeh Asher Eh-yeh”
(literally, “I shall be that I shall be”) sent
him to speak to them (Shemot 3:14). The
Midrash, as Rashi cites, explains this to
mean, “I shall be with them now, and I shall
be with them in future crises.” The Name
“Eh-yeh” has the numerical value of 21,
such that the phrase “Eh-yeh Asher Eh-yeh”
may refer to the two periods of 21 days –
the 21 festive occasions, and the 21 days of
mourning for the Bet Ha’mikdash. On the
eve of the Exodus from Egypt, one of our
nation’s most glorious moments, G-d was
informing the people that life is not always
going to be joyous and festive. Nobody has
a perfectly smooth life, without moments
of disappointment, hardship and pain. We
all go through different “21-day periods”
– periods of joy and success, and periods
of hardship. We are told that Hashem is
with us throughout it all, that He is always
helping us, and that we, in turn, must be
devoted to Him throughout it all, both in
happy occasions and in difficult times.
In the “Baruch She’amar” prayer which
we recite each morning, we proclaim,

“Baruch Gozer U’mekayem,” which is
commonly understood to mean, “Blessed is
He who decrees and fulfills His decrees.”
But this passage has also been explained
to mean, “Blessed is He who decrees and
sustains.” When G-d issues a “decree” that
a person must face a certain challenge,
He “sustains” that person, providing him
with the strength, fortitude and resilience
he needs to overcome it. G-d never gives
us a test we cannot pass. When He places
us in a difficult situation, He gives us the
emotional strength to prevail.
We must not break when conditions are
difficult, because Hashem believes in us
and “sustains” us throughout it all. And
so even in hard times, we must remain
steadfastly committed and devoted to Him,
no less than we are during periods of joy
and prosperity.