“Pinchas… turned back My wrath… and I did not destroy the Children of Israel” (Bamidbar 25:11)

From the difficulties that people face in making decisions, it becomes clear that the struggle is rarely about choosing between right and wrong. More often, the real challenge is identifying what is right and what is wrong. And sometimes, even more complicated, both options are right – so which one should a person choose?

These questions fill our minds constantly. Whether it is deciding which guests to invite for Shabbos, or choosing which relatives’ wedding to attend at the expense of another, we regularly face dilemmas that have no obvious answer. In areas of spirituality, Chazal often give us principles to help us make these decisions. For example, this week someone approached me about possibly changing the place where he learns. After discussing it with him, it became clear that although he was satisfied where he was, he would rather be learning in a different place. Chazal teach, “A person should learn where his heart desires.” Based on that, I told him that he should make the change.

There is a fascinating story that illustrates this idea. Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein (1885-1974), the famed mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva, was once offered a position of mashgiach in Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. Reb Chatzkel accepted the offer. The Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir came to him with a complaint, “The Mir Yeshiva did so much for you throughout your life. You owe a tremendous debt of gratitude. How can you leave?” Reb Chatzkel responded, “As great as my obligation of hakaras hatov is, my responsibility to Hashem is even greater. Since I can influence more students in Ponevezh, my hakaras hatov must first be directed toward Hashem. This means I must go to Ponevezh, even though the Mir has done so much for me.”

In this week’s parsha, we encounter a difficulty that the commentators are busy with. Pinchas acts as a zealot and kills a prince of the tribe of Shimon and a princess of Moav. People challenged him: “Gadol hashalom” – why did you take the law into your own hands?” The Aruch LaNer (Yacov Ettlinger 1798-1871) in his sefer Minchas Oni, explains this question based on the principle we mentioned. As great as the value of shalom is, our responsibility to fulfill Hashem’s will is even greater. Therefore, Pinchas had to set aside shalom and act as a zealot for the sake of Hashem.

The problem, of course, is that many people who have personal agendas act as zealots in the name of Hashem. True zealotry can only exist when a person’s motivation is totally free of personal interest. This may explain a puzzling statement of Chazal in this week’s parsha: Klal Yisrael accused Pinchas, saying: “Your grandfather fattened cows for idolatry and now you kill a prince?” Hashem responded that Pinchas descends from Aharon HaKohen.

There is a saying that a BT (baal teshuva) is often “frumer” than an FFB (frum from birth). The idea is that the BT is trying to prove himself. This is what klal Yisrael suspected of Pinchas: “Since your grandfather was involved in idolatry, you feel compelled to go the extra mile and kill these sinners.” Hashem’s answer was that Pinchas’ zealotry was borne out of the middah of peace, the defining trait of Aharon Hakohen.

I would conclude with Rav Yaakov Kamenetzsky’s (1891-1986) explanation of the word “shalom”. It means living together in harmony; it does not merely mean “not fighting”. Sometimes, in order to preserve harmony, evil must be eradicated. Pinchas’ act of zealotry actually brought peace by stopping the plague.

May we merit clarity in knowing what the right thing to do is. And may we have the fortitude to act accordingly. Through this, we can bring peace between ourselves and Hashem, and peace between ourselves and our fellow man.