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Why was Pinchas rewarded with eternal kehuna for killing Zimri? Zimri's sin wasn't mere adultery but a philosophical argument denying any distinction between Jewish and non-Jewish marriage, threatening kedushas Yisrael itself. Pinchas defended the principle that proper Jewish marriage is the primary vehicle for bringing kedusha into the physical world.
This shiur explores the connection between Parshas Pinchas and the Three Weeks period, focusing on why Pinchas was rewarded with eternal kehuna for killing Zimri and Cozbi. Rabbi Yeshaya Greenberg ZT"L explains that Zimri's sin wasn't merely adultery, but his philosophical argument that there's no difference between marrying a Jew and a non-Jew, effectively denying kedushas Yisrael (the holiness of the Jewish people). This threatened the very foundation of creation's purpose. The shiur delves into the nature of kedusha (holiness), explaining that it's not a spiritual concept but rather the sanctification of the physical world through connecting it to Hashem (ה׳). All mitzvos are physical acts that bring the material world closer to God. Marriage serves as the primary vehicle for this connection - the Gemara (גמרא) states that when a husband and wife live properly, the Shechinah dwells between them.
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Parshas Pinchas - Pinchas's reward of kehuna
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