This Dvar Torah was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: #64, ‘The Yarmulka: At Home and In the Office.’
Good Shabbos! The shiur will resume after the summer break.

Parshas Pinchas begins with the conclusion of the incident that occurred at the end of Parshas Balak: “Kanaim pog’im bo.” In an act of zealous jealousy for Hashem, Pinchas simultaneously killed both a nasi (Jewish tribal leader) and a Midianite princess while they were publicly engaged in an act of sexual immorality.

In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Hashem grants Pinchas “es Brisi shalom” (My covenant of peace) as a reward for his action. The letter “vov” (the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet) in the word shalom is a vov k’tiah (split), as if there are two vovs, one on top of the other. What is the symbolism behind this unique vov?

Throughout the description of creation, the Torah concludes each day with the comment, “And Hashem saw that it was good.” Chazal note, however, that at the conclusion of the second day of creation, when Hashem split the waters (Genesis 1:6) – between the waters above and below the rakiah (firmament), the Torah omits that comment. Chazal explain that the reason for this omission is that the splitting of the waters marked the first time in history that there was machlokes (division or argument). Prior to this act, there was unity in the world. Now there was division. Regarding machlokes, we can never say, “It was good.”

Chazal elaborate: If this original machlokes, which enabled establishment of the world, could not be described as “Ki tov” (it was good), then certainly regular disputes, even with the noblest of motives, cannot be described as “tov.”

However, there appears to be a contradiction to this Chazal from the very same parsha in Bereishis. Hashem divided between light and darkness, but still the pasuk (verse) there immediately comments, “And Hashem saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:18). Why was the division between light and darkness good?

Rav Shlomo Breuer resolves this contradiction with a beautiful insight: He quotes the pasuk “…Truth and peace you shall love” (Zechariah 8:19). We must love shalom (peace). However, there is something that comes before shalom, and that is emes (truth). As much as we emphasize the importance of shalom, in the final analysis, shalom is important up to a certain point. That is the point of emes. A person should not make shalom if making shalom is going to compromise the emes, by causing him to throw out principles and values that he knows to be emes.

The Mishna (Uktzin 3:12) says, “Hashem did not find any vessel to hold blessing, other than the vessel of peace.” Shalom is the receptacle. It is the kli (vessel) that holds everything. However, a person sometimes needs to look and ask himself, “What am I left holding?” If I compromise everything in the name of shalom, then what is this kli of shalom left holding? It is holding nothing. Yes, shalom, is very important but remember the sequence of the pasuk: Emes and (then) shalom you shall love.

Now we can understand the difference between the separation of “the waters and the waters” (above and below the rakiah) and the separation of “light and darkness.” In the case of the rakiah, there was no real difference between the waters above and the waters below. The division was merely for the sake of division. While the division was necessary for the welfare of the world, inherently, it had no purpose. Therefore, the pasuk does not say “Ki tov.” However, separation between light and darkness – between something that represents good and something that represents bad, between something that is right and something that is wrong, that is a division about which we can indeed say “Ki tov.”

Pinchas did not seek out compromise with Zimri and Kozbi in the name of shalom. Pinchas knew that there is a point at which a person must draw the line and say “Here, and no further!” That is an example of division “between light and darkness.”

Now we can understand why the vov of shalom is split: Yes, shalom is important, but there are two kinds of shalom. At times, the vov is a “vov hachibur” – a vov that connects (the vov used as a conjunctive “and”), but at other times, the vov is used for distinction, as a letter that divides, a vov of machlokes, of division.

That is why the vov of shalom is split. When pursuing the cause of shalom, a person must remember that there are two vovs. Sometimes the “vov hachibur” is appropriate and it is worthwhile to compromise. However, sometimes the vov of chiluk – of separation – is appropriate. Sometimes in the name of shalom, a person must say “No, machlokes is better than shalom at any price.”

The Chasam Sofer takes note of the fact that the language of the Mishna (Avos 1:12) is “Loving shalom and rodef (pursuing) shalom.” Usually, the connotation of the word rodef means one who pursues (for the sake of harming). The Chasam Sofer notes that sometimes, in the name of shalom, we must be a rodef (pursuer of) shalom. When Pinchas was trying to kill Zimri, he was indeed a rodef, but sometimes that is in fact necessary, in the name of shalom.

Transcribed by David Twersky; Jerusalem [email protected]

Edited by Dovid Hoffman; Baltimore, MD [email protected]

This week’s write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissochar Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly Torah portion. A listing of the halachic portions for Parshas Pinchas is provided below:

• # 064 – The Yarmulka: At Home and In the Office
• # 154 – Writing a Halachically Sanctioned Will
• # 201 – Fasting on Tisha B’Av: Is It For Everyone?
• # 246 – Hilchos Brachos: Ikar Ve Tofel
• # 291 – The Do’s and Don’t of Kashering Keilim
• # 336 – Tisha B’Av on Motzoei Shabbos
• # 381 – Making A Zecher Le’churban
• # 425 – Minhagim of the Three Weeks
• # 469 – Tu B’Av
• # 513 – Leining on Fast Days and Other Ta’aneisim Issues
• # 557 – Disinheriting
• # 645 – Women and Bentching
• # 688 – A Manicure on Shabbos?
• # 732 – Does A Mezuza Need a Door?
• # 776 – Yayin Mevushal – Does It Exist?
• # 821 – Cholent on Sunday of the Nine Days
• # 865 – Neckties,Shoelaces and Tichels: A Knotty Problem
• # 909 – Shabbos Shacharis – Hashkama Vs Later
• # 953 – Tevilas Keilim: My Hosts Haven’t Toiveled Their Dishes
• # 995 – The Mitzva of Shiluach Ha’Kain – Do We Make A Bracha?
• #1040 – Learning on Tisha B’av? Saying Tehilim on Tisha B’Av?
• #1084 – The Kohain Who Killed Someone by Accident: Can He Still “Duchan”?
• #1127 – Tei’ku – What Will Eliyahu Answer?
• #1169 – 17 Tamuz–When Does It Start? Wearing Laundered Shirts In Nine Days?
• #1212 – Goral: Can You Have A Raffle For A Sefer Torah?
• #1257 – Learning on Tisha B’Av, Should You? Can You? Eating Tisha B’Av Night So You Can Fast on Tisha B’Av Day?
• #1301 – A Tisha B’av Message: The Golden Rule – Don’t Do Unto Others What You Don’t Want Done Unto You
• #1345 – Bathing During the Nine Days
• #1389 – The Case of the Rabbi Who Said I Want My Son To Assume My Position When I Retire – Can He Demand That?
• #1433 – The Use of a Goral in Halacha
• #1521 – Bris During Nine Days: Fleishigs or Milchig? Shabbos Leftovers for Sunday Night Dinner?

A complete catalogue can be ordered from the Yad Yechiel Institute, PO Box 511, Owings Mills MD 21117-0511. Call (410) 358-0416 or e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.yadyechiel.org/ for further information.

Remove: https://torah.org/torah-portion/ravfrand-5761-pinchas/

This Dvar Torah was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: #64, ‘The Yarmulka: At Home and In the Office.’
Good Shabbos! The shiur will resume after the summer break.

The Double Vov: Sometimes a Vov of Connection, Sometimes of Division

Parshas Pinchas begins with the conclusion of the incident that occurred at the end of Parshas Balak: “Kanaim pog’im bo.” In an act of zealous jealousy for Hashem, Pinchas simultaneously killed both a nasi (Jewish tribal leader) and a Midianite princess while they were publicly engaged in an act of sexual immorality.

In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Hashem grants Pinchas “es Brisi shalom” (My covenant of peace) as a reward for his action. The letter “vov” (the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet) in the word shalom is a vov k’tiah (split), as if there are two vovs, one on top of the other. What is the symbolism behind this unique vov?

Throughout the description of creation, the Torah concludes each day with the comment, “And Hashem saw that it was good.” Chazal note, however, that at the conclusion of the second day of creation, when Hashem split the waters (Genesis 1:6) – between the waters above and below the rakiah (firmament), the Torah omits that comment. Chazal explain that the reason for this omission is that the splitting of the waters marked the first time in history that there was machlokes (division or argument). Prior to this act, there was unity in the world. Now there was division. Regarding machlokes, we can never say, “It was good.”

Chazal elaborate: If this original machlokes, which enabled establishment of the world, could not be described as “Ki tov” (it was good), then certainly regular disputes, even with the noblest of motives, cannot be described as “tov.”

However, there appears to be a contradiction to this Chazal from the very same parsha in Bereishis. Hashem divided between light and darkness, but still the pasuk (verse) there immediately comments, “And Hashem saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:18). Why was the division between light and darkness good?

Rav Shlomo Breuer resolves this contradiction with a beautiful insight: He quotes the pasuk “…Truth and peace you shall love” (Zechariah 8:19). We must love shalom (peace). However, there is something that comes before shalom, and that is emes (truth). As much as we emphasize the importance of shalom, in the final analysis, shalom is important up to a certain point. That is the point of emes. A person should not make shalom if making shalom is going to compromise the emes, by causing him to throw out principles and values that he knows to be emes.

The Mishna (Uktzin 3:12) says, “Hashem did not find any vessel to hold blessing, other than the vessel of peace.” Shalom is the receptacle. It is the kli (vessel) that holds everything. However, a person sometimes needs to look and ask himself, “What am I left holding?” If I compromise everything in the name of shalom, then what is this kli of shalom left holding? It is holding nothing. Yes, shalom, is very important but remember the sequence of the pasuk: Emes and (then) shalom you shall love.

Now we can understand the difference between the separation of “the waters and the waters” (above and below the rakiah) and the separation of “light and darkness.” In the case of the rakiah, there was no real difference between the waters above and the waters below. The division was merely for the sake of division. While the division was necessary for the welfare of the world, inherently, it had no purpose. Therefore, the pasuk does not say “Ki tov.” However, separation between light and darkness – between something that represents good and something that represents bad, between something that is right and something that is wrong, that is a division about which we can indeed say “Ki tov.”

Pinchas did not seek out compromise with Zimri and Kozbi in the name of shalom. Pinchas knew that there is a point at which a person must draw the line and say “Here, and no further!” That is an example of division “between light and darkness.”

Now we can understand why the vov of shalom is split: Yes, shalom is important, but there are two kinds of shalom. At times, the vov is a “vov hachibur” – a vov that connects (the vov used as a conjunctive “and”), but at other times, the vov is used for distinction, as a letter that divides, a vov of machlokes, of division.

That is why the vov of shalom is split. When pursuing the cause of shalom, a person must remember that there are two vovs. Sometimes the “vov hachibur” is appropriate and it is worthwhile to compromise. However, sometimes the vov of chiluk – of separation – is appropriate. Sometimes in the name of shalom, a person must say “No, machlokes is better than shalom at any price.”

The Chasam Sofer takes note of the fact that the language of the Mishna (Avos 1:12) is “Loving shalom and rodef (pursuing) shalom.” Usually, the connotation of the word rodef means one who pursues (for the sake of harming). The Chasam Sofer notes that sometimes, in the name of shalom, we must be a rodef (pursuer of) shalom. When Pinchas was trying to kill Zimri, he was indeed a rodef, but sometimes that is in fact necessary, in the name of shalom.

Transcribed by David Twersky; Jerusalem [email protected]

Edited by Dovid Hoffman; Baltimore, MD [email protected]

This week’s write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissochar Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly Torah portion. A listing of the halachic portions for Parshas Pinchas is provided below:

• # 064 – The Yarmulka: At Home and In the Office
• # 154 – Writing a Halachically Sanctioned Will
• # 201 – Fasting on Tisha B’Av: Is It For Everyone?
• # 246 – Hilchos Brachos: Ikar Ve Tofel
• # 291 – The Do’s and Don’t of Kashering Keilim
• # 336 – Tisha B’Av on Motzoei Shabbos
• # 381 – Making A Zecher Le’churban
• # 425 – Minhagim of the Three Weeks
• # 469 – Tu B’Av
• # 513 – Leining on Fast Days and Other Ta’aneisim Issues
• # 557 – Disinheriting
• # 645 – Women and Bentching
• # 688 – A Manicure on Shabbos?
• # 732 – Does A Mezuza Need a Door?
• # 776 – Yayin Mevushal – Does It Exist?
• # 821 – Cholent on Sunday of the Nine Days
• # 865 – Neckties,Shoelaces and Tichels: A Knotty Problem
• # 909 – Shabbos Shacharis – Hashkama Vs Later
• # 953 – Tevilas Keilim: My Hosts Haven’t Toiveled Their Dishes
• # 995 – The Mitzva of Shiluach Ha’Kain – Do We Make A Bracha?
• #1040 – Learning on Tisha B’av? Saying Tehilim on Tisha B’Av?
• #1084 – The Kohain Who Killed Someone by Accident: Can He Still “Duchan”?
• #1127 – Tei’ku – What Will Eliyahu Answer?
• #1169 – 17 Tamuz–When Does It Start? Wearing Laundered Shirts In Nine Days?
• #1212 – Goral: Can You Have A Raffle For A Sefer Torah?
• #1257 – Learning on Tisha B’Av, Should You? Can You? Eating Tisha B’Av Night So You Can Fast on Tisha B’Av Day?
• #1301 – A Tisha B’av Message: The Golden Rule – Don’t Do Unto Others What You Don’t Want Done Unto You
• #1345 – Bathing During the Nine Days
• #1389 – The Case of the Rabbi Who Said I Want My Son To Assume My Position When I Retire – Can He Demand That?
• #1433 – The Use of a Goral in Halacha
• #1521 – Bris During Nine Days: Fleishigs or Milchig? Shabbos Leftovers for Sunday Night Dinner?

A complete catalogue can be ordered from the Yad Yechiel Institute, PO Box 511, Owings Mills MD 21117-0511. Call (410) 358-0416 or e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.yadyechiel.org/ for further information.