Return to the Future

When we are afforded a glimpse into the future world of holiness and peace, we do not want to act in a manner that is contrary to this new world. When we know that we will be promoted to a higher position, we will start acting and thinking in consonance with that new position even before we reach it.

Rewarded with an Extra Letter too his Name

When Pinchas acted alone to kill Zimri and Cozbi, the Jewish prince and Midianite princess, respectively, for their breech of morality, Pinchas was rewarded by G-d. Among the rewards that are recorded in our oral tradition is that a letter yud was added to Pinchas’ name The name Pinchas can be written correctly two ways. One is without the yud and one way is with a yud.. Why would the addition of a yud be considered a reward for Pinchas and why is it important for us to know that a yud was added?

Joseph’s Name Change

We find a similar, though not identical, situation with respect to Joseph. He too had to struggle against immoral influences. Joseph was repeatedly propositioned by Potiphar’s wife, in whose house he was sold as a slave. In her last attempt to seduce him by holding on to his jacket, Joseph left the jacket behind and fled.

According to the Midrash, Joseph was actually about to succumb, when the image of his father Jacob appeared to him. At that point he mustered sufficient moral strength and escaped.

As a reward, the Midrash states, the letter hei was added onto Joseph’s name. He is thus referred to in Psalms as “Yehoseif,” not just Yoseif.

Here too we must understand why the addition of a Hebrew letter would constitute a reward for resisting immorality. And we must also reflect on the difference between Joseph and Pinchas (who was actually a descendent of Joseph) in the approach they took to win their respective struggles.

The Two Worlds: Past and Future

Our sages tell us that the two letters “yud” and “hei” are the two first letters of G-d’s name. With the yud G-d created Olam Haba-the World to Come and with the hei He created Olam Hazeh-this physical world. (It is interesting to note that in Hebrew, when a verb is preceded by the letter yud it implies future tense.)

From this we can appreciate the difference between Joseph and Pinchas. Joseph drew strength from G-d’s presence in this world. When he saw the image of his father Jacob, he was able to resist the temptation.

Inspired by the Past

There are people who draw strength from their parents and ancestors. When they realize how the Jewish nation has survived only due to the heroic sacrifices and dedication of our ancestors, they do not want to sever their ties with their glorious past. They will tell themselves: “We have come so far, how can we undermine thousands of years of Jewish history?”

With this approach, one is inspired by the past and by considerations of this world. If we were to give up our struggle now we will have forfeited this world and all that we have accomplished therein.

Joseph was thus given the letter “hei” symbolizing the divine influence that exists in this world, which enables one to resist the new winds that blow and threaten our ties to Judaism and morality.

Pinchus Inspired by the Future

Pinchas, conversely, is associated with the future. “Pinchas,“ our sages declare “is Elijah the prophet,” whose role it is to herald the coming of Moshiach. Elijah, the last prophet states, will “restore the hearts of the parents through the children.”

In other words, Elijah-Pinchas functions in a generation or mindset where the connection to the past has been severed. The parents are no longer capable of influencing their children, for they too have faltered and have severed their ties with the past.

Instead, the children restore the hearts of the fathers to Judaism. When we are afforded a glimpse into the future world of holiness and peace, we do not want to act in a manner that is contrary to this new world. When we know that we will be promoted to a higher position, we will start acting and thinking in consonance with that new position even before we reach it.

Pinchas was motivated in his act of zealotry against the immoral behavior of a Jewish leader not by the past. Even the most illustrious Jewish leaders, who represented the past, such as his great uncle Moses and his own father Elazar, did not know how to deal with the situation. Pinchas was inspired, however, by the spirit of the future.

Pinchas, however, knew that the future of the Jewish nation would be pure and holy. He was convinced that the road to that glorious future must be paved with self-sacrifice for the ideals of Torah and morality.

Pinchas was thus given the letter yud of G-d’s name to underscore that the Divine energy that gave him the strength to act zealously derived from the future.

We too are living at the end of the period known as Galusexile and our poised to enter into the future world of Geulah-Redemption. Instead of looking back for guidance and inspiration ala Joseph, we are in the best position to adopt the Pinchas mode of projecting into the future and realizing the way life will be so ideal in terms of morality and holiness. So let us behave that way know. Let us live in that future atmosphere, The very anticipation of the future and living with it is the most powerful force that will actualize the energies of Redemption and hasten the revelation of Moshiach and the Final Redemption.

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