When many people in Bnei Yisrael were enticed to sin with the daughters of Moav and engaged in idol worship, Zimri publicly sinned with Kuzzbi, a princess of Midyan. As a result of this outrageous behavior a plague raged through Bnei Yisrael. Pinchas, the grandson of Aharon was filled with zeal to avenge Hashem’s honor and risked his life to kill Zimri and Kuzzbi, whereupon the plague stopped.
Hashem proclaimed that because of this, Pinchas would merit Kehunah and the Bris Shalom, Covenant of peace.
Asks Harav Chaim Soloveichik, although Pinchas did a meritorious act, why does he deserve a covenant of peace? A brave soldier can receive a medal for bravery, a brilliant surgeon can receive an award for his medical prowess, but how was Pinchas’s violent act deserving of being rewarded for peace?
Rav Chaim answers that this was a reward measure for measure, for bringing Shalom, peace Between Hashem and B’nei Yisrael. Although on the surface it seemed a violent act, since it brought about true peace by sanctifying Hashem’s name and restoring Hashem’s honor, it is considered a heroic act of peace!
Who was a more peaceful person, Neville Chamberlain who tried to appease Hitler and allowed him to continue acts of agression or Winston Churchill who recognized and responded to the danger?
In today’s society, peace and kindness is measured by whatever makes someone feel “warm and fuzzy” at this moment. Conversely, when a gorilla threatens the life of a child and is put to death, people are outraged by the lack of humanity! America has just gone through 2 weeks of political conventions in which agendas applauded by one party were condemned by the other and vice versa. This is because there is no way to blindly ascertain what is moral and what is immoral.
We are fortunate to have the Torah which is the true yardstick of right and wrong and brings only blessing rather than grope around in the dark and live life according to subjective values.

By Rabbi Sharaga Thav
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