TGIS: Thank G-d It’s Shabbat
Pinchas 22 Tammuz / 23 Tammuz 5785 18 July / 19 July 2025 |
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PARASHAT PINCHAS
Covenant & Conversation – Rabbi Jonathan Sacks with Rabbi Daniel Rose
The Israelites began mixing with Moabite women and we soon worshipping their g-ds. A plague raged and 24 000 Jewish men died. A leading Israelite, Zimri, brought a Midianite woman, Kozbi, and sinned with her in full view of Moshe and the people. It was the most shameless act of rebellion against G-d. Pinchas took a spear and killed them both, and the plague immediately ended.
Was Pinchas a hero or a murderer? On the one hand, he saved countless lives: no more people died from the plague. On the other hand, did he know that in advance? To any onlooker, he might have seemed like a man of reckless violence, caught up in anger. In our parasha G-d announces: “Pinchas, son of Elazar, son of Aharon the priest, has turned back My anger from the Israelites by being zealous among them on My behalf, so that I did not wipe out the Israelite people in My zeal. Therefore … I am making with him My covenant of peace” (Bemidbar 25:11 – 12).
G-d declared Pinchas a hero. He had saved the Israelites from destruction by showing passion for G-d that was the antidote to the people’s faithlessness, and as a reward, G-d honoured him. Pinchas acted correctly in G-d’s eyes.
The Rabbi’s of the Talmud tell us that the halakha sees things differently. Firstly, they rule that if Zimri had turned and killed Pinchas in self-defence, he would declared innocent in a court of law. Secondly, they rule that if Pinchas had killed Zimri and Kozbi just before or after they were engaged in the sin, he would have been guilty of murder. Thirdly, had Pinchas checked with a beit din as to whether he should act as he did, the answer would have been no. This is one of the rare cases where we say, “Halakha ve’ein morin kein” – “It is the law, but we do not teach people to act like this.” While the Torah gives us an answer about Pinchas’s act, rabbinic halakha teaches us that this is not the kind of behaviour we can follow.
But G-d was pleased with Pinchas, so why do the Rabbis criticise his actions? How can he have been both right and wrong? It helps to look at the story from two different perspectives. From an individual, moral perspective, Pinchas should not have done what he did. He took the law into his own hands. But from a political perspective, he showed true leadership and protected his people – he stopped the plague and was blessed by G-d.
- Announcements | Pinchas
Announcements | PINCHAS |
The Executive and Committee wish you Shabbat Shalom.
The Executive and Committee wish you Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Sam Thurgood will officiate over Shabbat and will be our Baal Koreh
Please note our shul cellphone and WhatsApp number is 060 764 6017.
As from this Sunday 20th July, weekday Mincha moves to 17:45.
We thank our brocha ladies on duty this Shabbat Peta Feldman and Bev Shrand.
Upcoming Events:
Rabbi Shalom Hammer will be with us over Shabbat Hazon, Devarim and Tisha B’ Av.
Yeshiva of Cape Town Community Shabbaton 8-10 August 2025. Please see poster for more information.
Please note that Morasha welcomes sponsorships towards our Kiddush Brachot.
“Junie Punie” Children’s service (ages 1-6) takes place at 10h15 on Shabbat Morning.
“Dream Team Activities” Older kids and early teens activities are from 10h15 – 11h00 on Shabbat Morning
“Toddler Time” For the Tiny Tots on Shabbat at 17h30pm. Please bring your kids and have some fun!!
Morasha Wi-Fi code is “Morasha Guest”, and the password is We@rehome31
- Torah Reading Pages | Pinchas
Parashat Balak Artscroll Steinsaltz Living Torah Hirsch Torah 876 883 798 686 Maftir 896 903 822 698 Haftarah 1192 1247 1212 710
- Shabbat Pinchas
Earliest Candle Lighting 16:54 Latest Candle Lighting 17:40 Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat 17:30 Shacharit 08:45 Latest time for morning Shema 10:20 Mincha 17:00 Shabbat Ends 18:34
- Weekday Davening Schedule
Shacharit | Monday and Thursday 06:40 Shacharit | Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 06:50 Shacharit| Sunday and Public Holidays 08:00 Shacharit| Rosh Chodesh, Fast Days and Chol HaMoed 06:40 Mincha | Sunday – Thursday 17:30
- Weekly Learning
Day Time Topic Speaker Place Shabbat Morning Shiur after Brocha Rabbi Sam Thurgood Shul Shabbat Mincha / Seuda Shiur and Quiz Rabbi Sam Thurgood Shul Monday After Shacharit 25/30 Minute Parsha To be advised Shul Sunday Pre Mincha 25 Minute Halacha/ Gemara To be advised Shul Please be so kind as to return siddurim, chumashim and library books to our bookshelves.
- Yahrzeits
Please take note: The Yahrzeit begins the evening before the date listed below
Name Yahrzeit for Date Glenda Galansky Father Saturday 19 July Karen Kellmann Grandfather Sunday 20 July Marian Mirvish Marks Aunt Sunday 20 July Gillian Cress Aunt Sunday 20 July Zane Lynton Lurie Grandfather Monday 21 July Jillian Chipkin Husband Monday 21 July Zillah Kudo Husband Monday 21 July Ross Kudo Father Monday 21 July Sharon Mamulis Father Monday 21 July Hyman Kestan Sister Monday 21 July Tarna Klitzner Mother Tuesday 22 July Benjamin Friedman Mother Tuesday 22 July Phillip Weinstein Mother Tuesday 22 July Stan Miller Brother Wednesday 23 July Adrian Chiger Father Thursday 23 July Joan Zieff Aunt Thursday 23 July Jeff Scher Mother Friday 24 July Muriel Levin Father Saturday 25 July Joan Fisher Father Saturday 25 July Larry Forman Grandfather Saturday 25 July
- Anniversaries & Birthdays
Anniversaries Birthdays Lara Greenblatt Saturday 19 July Coby Kudo Saturday 19 July Dion Levin Saturday 19 July Adaya Naomi Landau Sunday 20 July Natan Michael Landau Sunday 20 July Yair Elkanah Landau Sunday 20 July Amnon Melzer Sunday 20 July Tristan Jake Goldstein Monday 21 July Nadia Saban Tuesday 22 July Joseph Melzer Wed 23 July Stan Miller Wed 23 July Reuven Silberstein Wed 23 July Sharon Mamulis Thursday 24 July Liam Amsdorf Friday 25 July Selwyn Furman Friday 25 July Talya Bachmann Saturday 26 July Yanir Grindler Saturday 26 July Kim Kapeluschnik Saturday 26 July Leora Sternberg Saturday 26 July
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