Hypocrisy

A hypocrite is not one who may do an act at a later time that would contradict the spirit of the mitzvah he is about to fulfill. A hypocrite is one who tries to conceal evil in a veil of righteousness. What one ate for breakfast is quite irrelevant to fulfilling the request to put on Tefillin or do another mitzvah later on that day.

A Most Insulting Word

One of the most insulting words one can use to discredit another person these days is to call him/her a hypocrite.

So intimidating can the hypocrite epithet be that many have shied away from doing a mitzvah because they fear that – since they don’t keep All the Mitzvos, doing this one might cause them to be branded a hypocrite.

How many times have we heard the refrain, “If I would keep kosher at home when I don’t keep kosher when I eat out, I would be a hypocrite?” Or, “I’m not really so religious, how can I put on Tefillin? I don’t want to be called a hypocrite.”

True. Hypocrisy is indeed a serious character flaw – but that should in no way affect our efforts to do good. No one can change their entire way of life overnight. The key to improving one’s life is to add one mitzvah at a time. No one can totally disavow all negative behavior immediately – they must grow step by step. Inconsistency is a far cry from hypocrisy and, in fact, is the road to self growth and spiritual fulfillment.

A Real Definition

We can gain some insight into what is the real definition of hypocrisy from this week’s Torah portion. Pinchas, a grandson of Aaron, takes the initiative to kill two people whose immoral and idolatrous behavior was bringing misfortune upon the Jewish nation. Zimri, a leader of the tribe of Shimon was flaunting his defiance of the Torah by consorting with a Midianite princess named Kozbi. His motive was to demonstrate that this form of immorality was acceptable. As a result, the torah relates, G-d brought a plague that killed 24,000 people.

Pinchas incensed by this deviant conduct, took a spear and – without regard to his personal safety – executed the two violators. Immediately after Pinchas performs his zealous act, the plague ceases. Interestingly, our parsha relates that as a reward for his seemingly violent act, Pinchas is given G-d’s “Covenant of Peace.”

The Talmud describes hypocrites as those who “act like Zimri, but seek reward like Pinchas.”

Interestingly, the Talmud does not say, “One who acts like Korach and seeks a reward like Moses” nor does it contrast any other righteous and wicked person.

By referring to the hero and villain of this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas and Zimri, the Talmud sheds light on the true definition of a hypocrite. Pinchas, our sages relate, was accused of committing a heinous act by murdering Zimri. Some suggest that the Jews accused Pinchas of insincerity. Why did Pinchas come forward and not Moses, they charged? Obviously, they concluded, Pinchas was a cruel and sadistic person, who tried to cloak his desire for blood in the mantel of moral indignation. Pinchas, in their eyes, was the ultimate hypocrite.

It was also argued that Zimri was a good intentioned person. In an attempt to defend the behavior of the members of his tribe – many of whom had sunk to the depths of moral depravity – he tried to show that this act was not truly evil. Outwardly, it seemed that he was motivated by concern and love for his people.

In reality, Pinchas’s actions belied his true concern and love for the Jewish people. And Zimris’ actions reflected his contempt for the Torah and the well-being of the Jewish people.

A hypocrite is one who tries to cloak his destructive behavior in ostensibly righteous motives. Zimri made it appear that his act was in defense of his tribe, when in fact he had no interest other than his own self-gratification.

Pinchas, on the other hand, though he acted in a way that appeared to be destructive, was the opposite of a hypocrite, because his behavior was motivated by a genuine and deeply rooted concern and respect for his people and Judaism.

A hypocrite is not one who may do an act at a later time that would contradict the spirit of the mitzvah he is about to fulfill. A hypocrite is one who tries to conceal evil in a veil of righteousness. What one ate for breakfast is quite irrelevant to fulfilling the request to put on tefillin or do another mitzvah later on that day.

Pinchas, our sages tell us possessed the soul of Elijah the prophet. Elijah is the one who will usher in the Era of Moshiach, when hypocrisy will end because the “truth of G- d will endure forever.

From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Pinchas by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.