In this week's parsha Pinchas, we read the continuation of the story of Pinchas who through an act of great zealotry killed Cozbi and Zimri.

It is from the story of Pinchas we can learn the correct way to use the trait of zealousness. The Ramchal, in his sefer the Path of the Just, explains that true zealousness is an expression of love for G-d. On the surface we would have a difficult time understanding how Pinchas's act of killing is an expression of love for G-d. But the Ramchal explains that in the same sense that if someone was hurting/insulting your father or child most people would be filled with zealousness to avenge their honor, so too when a person sees someone acting in a way that is an affront to the honor of G-d if they truly love G-d they will also respond against the perpetrator with zealousness. The truth is though we see many people acting out with zealousness in the wrong way. True zealousness is a very lofty level attained through meticulous character development, most of the time we see "zealousness" though it is really coming from a different place than love for G-d. In most cases it is emanating from self-love because we feel slighted or hurt on a personal level by someone or something.

In many cases, we decide to take on certain battles and fight for some cause but if we truly examine the motivation behind our zealousness it is actually coming from a rotten place. The next time we enter into battle we should all ask ourselves are we acting out of love for G-d or love for ourselves?

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath