Rabbi Chaim
of Brisk once said about zealousness: Both a housewife and a cat want to
destroy mice. The sole difference lies in their attitudes. The housewife really
wants to be rid of them. The cat, however, wants the mice to be there to attack
them.
Pinchas acted zealously in this week's Torah
portion to stop a public display of immorality.
When Pinchas
killed Zimri and Kosbi, a tremendous controversy erupted among the people as to
whether his actions were correct or murderous. This week's parsha begins with
G-d "testifying" to the correctness of what Pinchas did. First,
because of what Pinchas did, he stemmed the plague that had broken out and was
killing multitudes. Second, the Torah
repeatedly identifies Pinchas as the grandson of Aharon HaKohen.
From Law and Order and NYPD, to CSI and NCIS, the
people of our generation can indefinitely figure out a way to commit murder
without getting caught. The story of Pinchas’ crime would have made a great
episode. He could’ve gotten away with it. But he didn’t. He openly confessed.
Why did he do it? And why did he admit it?
The motives of the zealot who takes unilateral action are
extremely important, for his very qualifications as a zealot hinge upon the
question of what, exactly, prompted him to do what he did. Is he truly
motivated to "still G-d's wrath", or has he found a holy outlet for
his individual aggression? Is his act truly an act of peace, driven by the
desire to reconcile an errant people with their G-d, or is it an act of
violence, made kosher by the assumption of the label
"zealot"?
And this leads us to the concept of Aveira Lishma. A sin in the name of heaven.
This concept is more than just doing an immoral act with proper motive. It's not just about breaking the speed limit to rush someone to the emergency room. It's a whole lot more.
Technically, one should be repulsed by loshon
harah. But suddenly there’s a scandal involving their neighbor, or even
their Rav, and the loshon harah
starts pouring out. “It’s l’shem shamayim!”
No it’s not. That’s not kanaut, zealousness.
That’s their bad middos waiting for an opportunity to come out. Another example
of mistaken Aveira Lishma; Cheating the government. “I’m allowed to. I learn in
Kollel! It’s L’shem shamayim!” No it’s not. Speaking against certain schools,
institution, rabbanim….Getting involved in community politics, creating machlokes…
We think it’s an Aveira lishma. Most of the time it’s not.
It’s about my ego.
There is a mishne
in Pirkei Avos “ Hevei Boreach min
haAveira” One must run away from a sin. The only word that comes to mind
here is Duh! I was expecting something
a little more profound from the mishne. Actually, it IS profound. The Gr”a
explains that it’s not teaching us to run away from regular sin. But even an Aveira Lishma should be done
reluctantly, and only as a last resort. Like Queen Esther marrying
Achashverosh. Like Yael killing the mighty king Sisra.
So how do I know if my zealousness is really for the sake of
heaven? I must ask myself: “Does Hashem want me to be doing this?” Is He ok
with me burning down a sheitel store because I feel sheitels aren’t tzanua? That’s
what the Possuk says about Pinchas, G-d said “ Pinchas was zealous out of
concern for MY honor”. It wasn’t for his
ego.
Just like the
scenario with the housewife vs. the cat in getting rid of the mouse, the same
applies to protests against misdeeds. One must sincerely not want the misdeeds.
One should not just use the misdeed as an opportunity to engage in protesting.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." That's only if we fail to analyze those intentions.
Have a great Shabbos!
