In parshas Pinchas, the Torah has a census of Klal Yisrael, which was at the end of the 40 years in the desert. We find discrepancies between these numbers and those from parshas Bamidbar, which was at the beginning of the 40 years. Shevet Shimon had the biggest difference of numbers, the only shevet numbering losses in the tens of thousands. Based on this, Chazal say that the 24,000 who died in the plague at the end of parshas Balak were all from shevet Shimon. In addition, when Moshe blessed all the shevatim, he left out Shimon, only hinting at them, highlighting the disappointment with them from the recent tragic event.
There is an astounding Zohar which sheds a new light on the tragic episode at the end of parshas Balak. Bilam had advised Balak to bring the women of Moav and Midyan to entice Klal Yisrael to sin with immorality and idolatry. This led to Zimri, the Nasi of shevet Shimon, to challenge Moshe by publicly sinning with Kozbi, the princess of Midyan, while his entire shevet loyally backed and protected him. This led to a plague, where 24,000 of Klal Yisrael died, which only stopped when Pinchas killed Zimri and Kozbi and prayed for the plague to end.
Now, here’s the Zohar (found in sefer otzer hamedrashim, the beginning of parshas Pinchas): The Zohar says: Oy vey to those who aren’t careful with their lineage. How so? Because shevet Shimon had converted the eirav rav and married with them. All the 24,000 who died in this plague (as well in earlier punishments) were the children of those marriages.
Let’s try to explain this Zohar. The eirav rav were non-Jews who wanted to come closer to Klal Yisrael and the Shechina. Moshe accepted them on his accord, believing it was a great zechus to bring them closer to the Shechina! We see later that Hashem voiced disapproval, by the cheit haegel. Chazal also tell us that it was the eirav rav who were the primary complainers, and they were a big part of the sin of the meraglim. As the 40 years progressed, the eirav rav disappeared. Forty years outside the ananei hakovod in the hot desert was just too challenging.
Now, according to the Zohar, it was shevet Shimon who accepted the eirav rav! Why did Shimon do this?
Rav Avigdor Miller zts”l explained that shevet Shimon saw a people who desired kedushah, so they accepted them with open arms! They converted and married them, bringing them into klal Yisrael, raising their levels of kedushah! So now, when they saw the Moavi and Midiani women approaching, showing interest in klal Yisrael, they reasoned that it would be wrong to turn them away. They’re looking for kedushah; let’s bring them closer! After all, Moav comes from Lot, our relative, and Midian comes from Avraham Avinu, our cousins! And the “bathroom service” to the ba’al pe’or idol (who’s service was relieving oneself before it) was literally a “dirty” joke, not real avoda zara! This was their intention. However, the Torah tells us that this was a flawed calculation. Shevet Shimon had noble intentions, but were wrong.
Why was it that shevet Shimon was the most affected, more them other shevatim?
Rav Yisrael Altusky shlita, of Yeshiva Torah Ore, Yerushalayim, gives this explanation. Shevet Shimon had a special midah - character trait. They fought for and supported the underdog, those in need who were not accepted and were viewed with inferiority. We see this in the beginning of Shimon’s career, when him and Levi wiped out the city of Shechem to save Dina. Dina was too embarrassed to leave; who would marry her now? She wouldn’t leave until Shimon promised to marry her. It was him and no one else who made the offer. That was his midah.
Another example where we see this midah was when Yaakov Avinu gave brachos to his sons and cursed Shimon and Levi’s anger. He told them that their portions in Eretz Yisrael would be divided. Levi would be in cities all throughout the shevatim. Shimon would have inferior land, and be combined with Yehuda, to keep Shimon in line. Chazal say that all paupers, peddlers, scribes, and teachers of children came from Shimon, because they were forced to wander around to seek parnasah. At the same time, such people needed to have the midah of caring to be a good teacher and to connect with others. That was channeling his midah for a good purpose.
Shevet Shimon had good intentions. They thought they could bring close and handle the eirav rav’s issues, and that Moav and Midian’s intentions were pure and not pure evil. If not for the Torah, we wouldn’t necessarily know that Zimri’s and shevet Shimon’s calculations were wrong.
There’s a lot we can learn from here. Let’s focus on the following point. Even when we have our own understandings and calculations of how to serve Hashem, if it doesn’t have the support of the Gedolei Torah of our generation, the Moshe Rabbeinu of our generation, then we need to reevaluate our position. It could be that there’s a talmid chacham who comes to a conclusion over what path we should follow, whether in halachah or how to behave. However, if it doesn’t match with the opinion of the Gedolei Hador, then there’s an issue with that position. Zimri was great, but he wasn’t Moshe Rabbeinu. Don’t choose “my way,” choose the “High-way” and follow the leadership of the Gedolei Torah!
With all the current events involving Israel and the world, and between the Israeli supreme court, government, and the Torah world, there are many opinions flying around over what do to. But, do they fit with the opinions of the Torah giants of our times or not?
Taking this lesson a slightly different direction, I’d like to share the following recent story.
Avi and Yael are a kollel family in Israel, making plans to move back to the U.S. They had been looking for a house in Monsey, and found a few options. Option A seemed perfect, but they were number seven on the waiting list. Option B wasn’t as good, but seemed decent, and it came with an in-ground pool, surrounded by a fence with a gate. They were going to sign on option B. Avi’s father called, saying that Avi’s mother was very nervous about the pool. Their kids could get in, could they please reconsider? Avi and Yael were unsure of their next step. It’s hard to find a house, and their travel date was quickly approaching. Avi went to ask their Rav, Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz shlita if this was enough of a reason to back-out. As soon as the Rav heard that Avi’s mother was nervous, he said, “Drop it!” They listened, and backed out of Option B. The next morning, they got a call from option A. The person interested had just backed out, and the owner wasn’t sure who were numbers 2-6 and which order they were in. Since Avi and Yael had given an Israeli number, the owner remembered them and called them first, with the offer of option A! They happily signed, seeing that not only didn’t lose by following da’as Torah, but they gained!
We can only gain by following da’as Torah. May we all be zoche to choose the “High-way” and follow the leadership of the Gedolei Torah, and be zoche to see yeshuos very soon!
By Rabbi Dov Chaitovsky
