QUESTION: Pinchas received a great reward by an incident involving low and degrading circumstances. Why does Hashem establish a system that complete good only comes after great descent?
ANSWER: HaShem of course can bring good without a preceding descent. However, the system established is that the greatest good grows from the transformation of “bad”. Whether our descent into this world in general, or our position within Galus in particular, our purpose is to transform the “evil” or darkness into complete good. This is the lesson of Pinchas and of the Three Weeks. )581ספר השיחות תשמ"ט, כרך ב, עמ' (
QUESTION: How is it possible for women nowadays to reach to the high level that the daughters of Tzelafchad achieved?
ANSWER: Women need to strengthen themselves specifically in matters in which they have a connection. Just as the daughters of Tzelafchad grew in their desire for Eretz Yisrael, so too, today’s women should be involved in matters in which the main emphasis is with the women (more than the men). Examples are matters of Kashrus and of Family Purity. In the merit of the women, was the redemption from Egypt, will also lead to the future Redemption. )256, עמ' יגלקוטי שיחות כרך (
QUESTION: Pinchas was rewarded with everlasting Kehunah for the one-time act to protect the Jews from G-d’s wrath. Yet, Moshe protected the Jews multiple times and did not receive any such reward?
ANSWER: The difference is revealed in the action of each one. Moshe prayed on behalf of the Jews and was successful in removing the decrees. Pinchas performed a physical action, which leads to the action of Teshuvah on the part of the Jews. Moshe’s mesiras nefesh even to the extent of offering to remove his name from the Torah was a “spiritual” activity from the level of neshama, revealing G-dliness from above. Pinchas’ mesiras nefesh, offering his physical self from the level of body, leading to the concept of Teshuvah from below, establishing a permanent vessel for G-dliness in this world, was rewarded with the everlasting covenant. )344 , עמ'יחלקוטי שיחות כרך (
QUESTION: What is the lesson that the sons of Korach were saved from death?
ANSWER: The lesson is the power of Teshuvah. The sons of Korach had thoughts of Teshuvah in their heart that wasn’t even expressed to others, and yet they were saved. The Teshuvah was only known to HaShem, yet they were saved and merited to have Shmuel the Prophet among their descendants and to the 24 groups of Cohanim, and to multiple chapters of Tehillim. )170, עמ' לגלקוטי שיחות כרך (
QUESTION: Nowadays the Leviim do not have an inheritance but they will after the Redemption. How does the Rambam explain this change? Does a Mitzvah change?
ANSWER: The prohibition for the Leviim to inherit land applies only in the land of the 7 Canaanite nations. After the Redemption, the Jews will acquire the three other lands in which the Leviim can have an inheritance. The Levites were removed from worldly matters (like land ownership) in order to serve G-d as an example to all the other Jews. In the future, the entire Jewish people will be occupied with knowledge of G-d by “default”, and the Leviim would not need a legal separation from the rest of the Jews. )103 , עמ'לח לקוטי שיחות כרך(
