Pinchas – How to be zealous

Rabbi Ezra Friedman

Rav Tzvi Yehuda Hakohen Kook had coined a very interesting expression about religious zealousness. “A person who does feel zealous about religious values should evaluate his connection to Hashem, however one who has to use that zealousness should also evaluate his Yirat Shamayim (awe of Hashem)”. In this week’s Parsha, Parashat Pinchas acted on his zealousness when he saw Zimri, the tribal head of Shimon, have illicit relations with a non-Jewish Midianite named Kozbi. Pinchas took a spear, killed both of them, and sanctified Hashem’s name. As a result of his zealousness, Hashem stopped a plague that was killing Am Yisrael as a punishment for their sins.
What can we learn from Pinchas’s actions? Is zealousness a positive or negative trait? The Rambam in his Mishneh Torah has a section called Hilchot De’ot (laws of correct opinions). There he writes that every human emotion has its golden path. It is never good to be too giving or too cheap. The middle road is always best. The Rambam adds that there are a few exceptions, meaning that there are certain emotions, which we should distance ourselves from completely, such as arrogance and anger. Is zealousness a trait we should distance ourselves from completely or does a golden path exist within zealousness?
On the surface level, zealousness seems very dangerous. If people were to act on their zealous feelings, there could be catastrophic results. However when we read the verses, Hashem praises and makes a covenant with Pinchas (Bamidbar 25, 11-13):

פִּֽינְחָ֨ס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֜ר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֗ן הֵשִׁ֤יב אֶת־חֲמָתִי֙ מֵעַ֣ל בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּקַנְא֥וֹ אֶת־קִנְאָתִ֖י בְּתוֹכָ֑ם וְלֹא־כִלִּ֥יתִי אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּקִנְאָתִֽי׃

Phinehas, son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the Israelites by displaying among them his passion for Me, so that I did not wipe out the Israelite people in My passion.

לָכֵ֖ן אֱמֹ֑ר הִנְנִ֨י נֹתֵ֥ן ל֛וֹ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י שָׁלֽוֹם׃

Say, therefore, I grant him My pact of friendship

וְהָ֤יְתָה לּוֹ֙ וּלְזַרְע֣וֹ אַחֲרָ֔יו בְּרִ֖ית כְּהֻנַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם תַּ֗חַת אֲשֶׁ֤ר קִנֵּא֙ לֵֽאלֹהָ֔יו וַיְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

It shall be for him and his descendants after him a pact of priesthood for all time, because he took impassioned action for his God, thus making expiation for the Israelites.
As we can see from the verses, Hashem makes two covenants with Pinchas, a covenant of Peace and covenant of Kehuna (priesthood). Why specifically these two covenants? Rav Yitzchak Abarbanel answers that peace and priesthood were two things Pinchas was in need of after killing Zimri. Peace was given to him to show the tribe of Shimon, where Zimri was the leader, that his actions were sincere and true, so that the tribe of Shimon should not seek revenge. The covenant of priesthood was given to Pinchas because the Kohanim were concerned that after Pinchas’s actions, he was no longer suited to serve as a Kohen. So again, Hashem gave him the covenant of Kehuna to proclaim that despite his actions, he was still permitted to serve as a Kohen.
The Netziv (Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin) has a different outlook on Pinchas’s zealousness. In Judaism, we look at our actions on a very deep level. Our actions not only function in the world, but they also have an effect on who are. Our actions define us. When Pinchas murdered Zimri and Kozbi, he was concerned that these actions would affect his soul. He was scared that he would be scarred forever. The Netziv explains that the covenant of Peace with Pinchas was a spiritual covenant that his soul would always stay pure since his actions were truly pure and sincere.
Perhaps we can use the Netziv’s explanation to understand the proper level of zealousness. There is a huge difference between feeling something passionately and acting upon that emotion. Zealousness is an important part of Judaism. Every Jew should feel the fervor to serve Hashem, protect our traditions and values, and even be truly ashamed when someone disgraces Judaism. However, zealousness is most effective when it remains inside us, in our conscience. When we let our zealousness guide our passion and feelings, yet never let it manifest itself in reality, it helps us infuse our life with religious passion. To have a life without zealousness inside of us is a shortcoming.

We should always feel a deep connection to the will of Hashem and aspire to live a life where the name of Hashem is sanctified in every realm. If our zealousness were to ever go so far as being acted upon, it might become uncontrollable and on that path might cause grave sin and tragedy. There are very few unique people who should act on their zealousness and Pinchas was one of them. We learn from the covenants made with Pinchas that manifesting zealousness is very dangerous and should only be acted upon in very extreme circumstances by very holy and sincere Tzadikim (righteous individuals). Just like the expression mentioned above by Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook, acting on zealousness is dangerous, but a heart without zealousness can be equally dangerous.