Parshat Pinchas 5759

Parshat Pinchas 5759 (unedited) “The Light of the Moon” Rabbi Ari Kahn This weeks Parsha is written in the memory of Rav Shmuel Yakov Weinberg ZT”L who passed away yesterday, on the 17th of Tammuz. This day has been a day of infamy throughout Jewish history, and now one more reason to mourn has been added. Rav Yakov was the Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisrael in Baltimore, and older brother of Rav Noah Weinberg Rosh Yeshiva of Aish Hatorah. His loss creates a vacuum, which seems impossible to even fathom filling. He was loved and revered by thousands of students. Rav Yakov’s summer excursions to Aish Hatorah were a cause of excitement for the entire staff and student body alike. He made himself available to all the students, from those who had been in the yeshiva literally one day and those who were advanced in their learning. Rav Yakov spoke clearly and with passion, the entire Torah was his domain. On a number of occasions I was privileged to have the opportunity to meet privately with Rav Yakov, we spoke at length about ideas and philosophy of Torah. Those conversations left an indelible impression, and I will carry his memory with me for the rest of my days. He will be sorely missed. I pray that G-d brings us comfort and wipes away all tears. May we merit to see the day when “The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall become times of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts to the house of Judah” May his memory be a blessing.

T

oward the end of Parshat Pinchas we are told about the various offerings which will be brought in the Temple on the different “Holy Days” which mark the calendar. And the Lord spoke to Moshe, saying: Command the people of Israel, and say to them, My offering, and My bread for My sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savor to me, shall you observe to offer to me in their due season. (28:1,2)

Each day beginning with daily service and proceeding with the Shabbat and other festivals are then enumerated, the prescription of proper service of the temple is set out. On the various holidays a sin offering is included as part of the etiquette for the day. And in the beginnings of your months you shall offer…And one kid of the goats for a sin offering to the Lord shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering. (28:11,15) And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast; seven days shall unleavened bread

1

be eaten…And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. (28:16,17,22) Also in the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new meal offering to the Lord, in your feast of weeks, you shall have a holy gathering; you shall do no labor…And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. (28:26,30) And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have an holy gathering; you shall do no labor; it is a day of blowing the horn for you…And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you; (29:1,5) And you shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month a holy gathering; and you shall afflict your souls; you shall not do any work in it…One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement (29:7,11) And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy gathering; you shall do no labor, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days…And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; (29:12,16) We find that each day requires a sin offering aside from the other offerings of the day. The choice of the goat as the vehicle to bring about forgiveness is significant. Instead of arbitrariness, the Midrash points to a fascinating association which helps reveal the meaning of the goat. ONE MALE OF THE GOATS FOR A SIN-OFFERING: This was to symbolize Yosef in connection with whom it is written, And they killed a he-goat, etc. [Berishit 37:31] (Midrash Rabbah - Numbers 14:5)1 The implication of this Midrash is that each sin offering must contain within it a measure of cleansing for the sin which was perpetrated against Yosef. The goat which is referred to is the goat which the brothers used to dip the “coat of many colors”. This coat was symbolic of the enmity which the brothers felt toward Yosef. This sin is the prototypical sin between man and his fellow man. And we may conclude based on the usage of the goat in every instance that this sin is constantly among us and more forgiveness and healing is still in order.2

1

See Rashi Bamidbar 7:22, and the comments of the Chizkuni 28:15. The Rambam in the “Guide for the Perplexed” (3:46) is apparently quite enamored with this explanation, he cites this idea and advises us “not to take it lightly”. 2 The Meshech Chachma (Vayikra 16:30) makes this observation, and cites a Midrash that says that the sin of the sale of Yosef remains unhealed and remains from generation to generation. The Meshech Chachma cites “Midrash Mishli siman 1, I found this teaching in the Yalkut Shimoni Mishli section 929 2

It is interesting that the origin of the problem between the brothers is the speech of Yosef.3 According to the Sages Loshen Hara is considered so severe that it was compared to the major sins in Judaism. The Chafetz Chaim, based on this association declared that Loshon Hara (gossip) and sinat chinam (groundless hatred) are identical – two sides of one coin.4 Therefore every holiday, when communal offerings where brought, man was told to bring forth an offering which would heal the first breech in the community; the sale of Yosef. This insight into the communal sin offering apparently breaks down when we read the command of the sin offering for the new month which deviates from all the other days. While on most days the Torah speaks of “And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you”. On the new moon the form is changed, and instead the verse reads: “And one kid of the goats for a sin offering to the Lord shall be offered”. Here the verse speaks of a “Sin offering to the Lord”. The Hebrew though is not so simple, the words read LiChatat LaHashem. This could mean a sin offering to G-d or a sin offering for G-d. While man surely needs atonement for a host of offences, past and present, what can the term possibly imply if in fact the sin offering is meant to brought for G-d? The Talmud offers a couple of possibilities in way of interpretation of this verse, and the shift in language from all the other sin offerings. What is R. Judah's reason? — Because the text says: And one goat for a sin offering unto the Lord: for a sin which is known only to the Lord shall this goat atone. — But this [superfluous word] we require for the deduction of R. Shimon b. Lakish, for R. Shimon b. Lakish said: ‘Why is the New Moon goat different in that [the phrase] onto the Lord is used in connection with it? — [Because] the Holy One, blessed be He, said: This goat shall be an atonement [for Me, as it were,] for my diminishing the size of the Moon!’(Talmud Shevu'oth 9a) We find two interpretations in the Talmud, the first states that the purpose of the sin offering is for offences which man is unfamiliar with. This idea is explained by Rashi, all the sin offerings brought in conjunction with the Musaf offering were meant to forgive any inadvertent offence in the preparation of the offerings brought on that day. Here, where it says “for G-d”, Rashi explain that this offering is brought for offences which only G-d is aware of. The second explanation is far more difficult. The Talmud insists that it is G-d who is in need of forgiveness! As stated above the very suggestion of G-d needing forgiveness seems absurd, yet the Talmud insists that G-d needs to be forgiven for His abuse of the moon. This idea is expanded in a second passage: 3 4

See Meshech Chachma Vayikra 8:36 See the introduction to the book Chafetz Chayim. 3

R. Shimon b. Pazzi pointed out a contradiction [between verses]. One verse says: And G-d made the two great lights, and immediately the verse continues: The greater light . . . and the lesser light. The moon said unto the Holy One, blessed be He, ‘Sovereign of the Universe! Is it possible for two kings to wear one crown’? He answered: ‘Go then and make thyself smaller’. ‘Sovereign of the Universe’! cried the moon, ‘Because I have suggested that which is proper must I then make myself smaller’? He replied: ‘Go and thou wilt rule by day and by night’. ‘But what is the value of this’? cried the moon; ‘Of what use is a lamp in broad daylight’? He replied: ‘Go, Israel shall reckon by thee the days and the years’. ‘But it is impossible’, said the moon, ‘to do without the sun for the reckoning of the seasons, as it is written: And let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years’. ‘Go, the righteous shall be named after thee as we find, Jacob the Small, Samuel the Small, David the Small’. On seeing that it would not be consoled the Holy One, blessed be He, said: ‘Bring an atonement for Me for making the moon smaller’. This is what was meant by R. Shimon b. Lakish when he declared: Why is it that the he-goat offered on the new moon is distinguished in that there is written concerning it unto the Lord? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, said: Let this he-goat be an atonement for Me for making the moon smaller. (Talmud - Chullin 60b)5 The Talmud indeed concludes that G-d asks for an offering be brought for Him, because of what happened to the moon.6 According to Talmudic cosmology there was a time that the moon and the sun enjoined equal stature. This is understood by the verse: And G-d made two great lights; the large light to rule the day, and the small light to rule the night; and he made the stars. (Bereisht 1:16) Because of the shift between the first part of the verse and the second the Talmud concluded that at one time both the lights were of equal stature.7 However we must note that both of these lights are independent of the primordial lights, which are referred to on the first day of creation: In the beginning G-d created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of G-d hovered over the face of the waters. And G-d said, Let there be light; and there was light. And G-d saw the light, that it was good; and G-d divided the light from the darkness. And G-d called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. (Berishit 1:1-5) The light that was created on the first day and which shone for the first three days is independent of the light of the sun or the moon which do not make their appearance until the fourth day. This light 5

Also see Zohar Berishit Hashmatot (additional material) Page 252. It is interesting that on Shabbat there is no sin offering, Shabbat is dependent solely on the sun the moon is of no effect. See Shari Tzedek Shar Rishon. 7 It is unclear if each was an independent light or they were the same size even though the moon enjoyed the light of the sun, as its source of light. See Avodat Hakodesh 4:8 6

4

which shone on the first day is not necessarily part of “creation”. A careful reading of the verse in Yishayahu will provide insight: I am the Lord, and there is no one else, there is no G-d beside me; I girded you, though you have not known me. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is no one else. I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I the Lord do all these things. (Yishayahu 45:5-7) Light is described as “formed” in contradistinction to “creation”. Light is formed while darkness is created. If light is formed then the implication is that it is formed from some type of metaphysical light, this light is refracted and then shines at creation. Therefore we may state that there is primordial light, additionally there is the light of the first three days, furthermore there is the original light of the moon and sun, and finally we have the light of the sun and the new reduced moon which has been diminished. Each one of these stages provides its own mystery and requires its own explanation. One thing which we can discern is a process. As a finite world emerges from an infinite Creator, we witness a shift in light. One possible explanation of this concept is that the moon is an example of a type of light which exists in darkness. At the point prior to creation all that existed was light, radiant light of G-d. This is not the light of the sun, or of other celestial bodies. It is the light of pure good. At the point of creation when G-d refracted this metaphysical light, something new was created – Darkness. This is the result when G-d withdrew infinity in order to create the finite. This is the meaning of the verse that G-d says: “I form the light, and create darkness. Something new now exists - darkness. The verse continues “I make peace, and create evil”. Evil is created, the natural result of G-d withdrawing from infinity in order to create coexistence, is the possibility of evil. Now in this new world there will be a possibility of pain and suffering. For this G-d asks man to bring a sin offering. On every month when the moon completes its cycle, we are reminded that the world goes through a similar cycle. There are times when G-d is more manifest, and yet there are times that G-d’s presence is difficult to discern.8 For this we are asked by G-d to bring a sin offering.9 8

The Vilna Gaon explained this idea by use of a verse in Song of Songs 2:9 “My beloved is like a gazelle or a young hart; Behold, he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.” There are times that we feel G-d looking through the window gazing at us, on the other hand there are times which we barely feel G-d peeking through the cracks. 9 See Zohar Berishit 20b where the sun and moon are associated with different names of G-d: Similarly the two lights ascended together with the same dignity. The moon, however, was not at ease with the sun, and in fact each felt mortified by the other. The moon said “Where dost thou pasture?” (S. S. I, 7). The sun said “Where dost thou make thy flock to rest at noon? (Ibid.) How can a little candle shine at midday?” G-d thereupon said to her, “Go and diminish thyself.” She felt humiliated and said “Why should I be as one that veileth herself?” (Ibid.). G-d then said “Go thy way 5

There is another level to understand the diminishment of the moon. When G-d attempted to console the moon for its new role and lost grandeur He said: “Go, Israel shall reckon by thee the days and the years”. The moon is associated with the children of Israel, just as the fortunes of Israel at times wane, there will become a time when Israel will shine bright. The continuation of the dialogue elucidates this point: ‘Go, the righteous shall be named after thee as we find, Ya’akov the Small, Shmuel the Small, David the Small”. There are certain individuals in Israel who are known as “small” despite the capability of shining bright. Ya’akov – the individual most associated with Israel the collective entity known as the Community of Israel. Shmuel, the anointer of kings, and finally King David. Israel in general is synonymous with the moon, and hence the moon is used by the Jews to anoint the seasons and months. But David more than any other individual is associated with the moon: R. Hiyya once saw the [old] moon in the heavens on the morning of the twenty-ninth day. He took a clod of earth and threw it at it, saying, Tonight we want to sanctify you, and are you still here! Go and hide yourself. Rabbi thereupon said to R. Hiyya, Go to En Tob and sanctify the month, and send me the watchword, ‘David king of Israel is alive and in being’ (Rosh HaShana 25a) When intrigue did not allow a clear public declaration of the new moon the phrase “David king of Israel is alive and in being” was utilized, and all Jews understood the message. Just as the kingship of the Jews had unfortunately ebbed, and fallen into disuse, the day would come when the grandeur of the Jews would return. If the world had become dark through exile of the shechina, we could still with confidence believe that the time would yet arrive when G-d would be fully manifest on this earth. The Zohar expands on this idea: R. Yehudah opened a discourse on the verse: Create me a clean heart, O G-d, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Ps. LI, 12). ‘The term “a clean heart”,’ he said, ‘finds its parallel in the passage: “Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart” (I Kings III, 9), and also in: “But he that is of merry heart hath a continual feast” (Prov. xv, 15). This is assuredly the clean heart which David asked for. “And renew a steadfast spirit within me” indicates the spirit spoken of in the passage: “and the spirit of G-d hovered over the face of the waters”, this being, as has been pointed out, the spirit of the Messiah; the forth in the footsteps of the flock.” Thereupon she diminished herself so as to be head of the lower ranks. From that time she has had no light of her own, but derives her light from the sun. … The “great light” corresponds to Tetragrammaton, and the “lesser light” to Elohim, which is the last of the degrees and the close of the Thought. 6

same is alluded to in the promise: “And a new spirit will I put within you” (Ez. XXXVI, 26). David thus prayed for that steadfast spirit, since on the sinister side there is the unclean spirit called the spirit of perverseness that leads people astray, that unclean spirit referred to in the statement: “The Lord hath mingled within her a spirit of perverseness” (Is. XIX, 14). David thus prayed: “and renew within me a spirit of steadfastness”. The term “renew” also alludes to the renewal of the moon, a period which contains the assurance that David, King of Israel, is alive and in being.’ (Zohar Berishit 192b) Creation of the world included a recoiling on G-d’s part. Radiant Divine light that could fill the world is hidden. It is the mission and destiny of the Jewish people to bring back that light and have it fill the world with incredible luster and beauty. The individual who will spearhead this movement will be a descendant of David. The passage cited a verse taken from the very beginning of creation: In the beginning G-d created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of G-d hovered over the face of the waters. And the spirit of G-d hovered over the face of the waters”, this being, as has been pointed out, the spirit of the Messiah Despite the cosmic metaphysical trauma of creation, there was from the beginning an apparatus available to bring more light into the world: the spirit of the Messiah – the son of David. It is interesting, Judaism knows of two messiahs, the son of David and the son of Yosef.10 As we saw at the outset, the sin offering is associated with Yosef, it signifies the rejection of Yosef by the brothers. The complaint of the moon was that it is inappropriate for two kings to wear one crown. The brothers did not appreciate Yosef, they thought that he was trying to usurp the crown of Yehuda – the crown destined for David. They too thought that one crown can only adorn one king. They felt that greatness and grandeur was the realm of David, it was not meant for Yosef. Ironically in the period of the First Temple, the time came when the tribe of Yosef usurped the kingdom of Yehuda. From those days onward we have been saying “David, King of Israel is alive and in being”. We need to be able to usher in the age when both Messiahs may shine bright. The key is the eradication of the hatred which caused the rejection of Yosef. When that is accomplished both lights will be able to shine bright, and no sin offering will be necessary.

10

Sukka 52 7

At the apex of history a son of Yosef which usher in an age when a son of David will enter the world. They will teach us to bring more primordial light down. At that point pain and suffering will disappear, eclipsed forever. More and more light will shine. In that day the moon will return to it’s original size as the light of G-d caresses and fills the world. The people of Israel will be held in great esteem as they complete their mission. David will then be king. On that day we will no longer need to bring a “sin offering” for G-d. On that day the sun and the moon will shine bright. Just as the people of Israel will radiate in the light of G-d, and of a world perfected. © 1999 Rabbi Ari Kahn, All Rights Reserved

8