תחת אשר קנא לאלקיו ויכפר על בני ישראל (פינחס כה:יג)

Because he took vengeance for his G-d and atoned for Hashem’s children…

Targum Yonosan ben Uziel quotes from Chazal: When Pinchas was niftar, Hashem made him into a Malach (angel) to live forever. When Eliyahu Hanavi was born, Hashem placed in him the neshama of Pinchas. Afterward, Eliyahu ascended alive to Heaven and returned to the state of a ‘Malach.’

In Sefer “Agra D’Pirka’ it is quoted from Rebbe Shlome Karliner zt’’l on a Medrash that when Eliyahu became a malach, Hashem gave him the task to be present at every Bris Milah to ensure that the baby undergoing circumcision returns home to his mother, healthy. From then on, Eliyahu Hanami received the title “Eliyahu Malach HaBris.”

Eliyahu Hanavi said to Hashem: “I possess the neshama of Pinchas, who was a big “Kanayi – zealot,” what happens if I attend a Bris and the baby’s father is sinful? I won’t be able to fathom it and will have to leave the Bris.”

Hashem promised that he would forgive the sins of the baby’s father. Eliyahu continued asking, “What is it if the Mohel or Sandek are sinful?” Hashem answered I will forgive them too. Eliyahu continued, “And what if one of the attendees at the Bris is sinful?” To which Hashem answered, “I will also forgive all who attend the Bris!”

This sentiment is alluded to the pasuk תחת אשר קנא לאלקיו – since Eliyahu has the neshama of Pinchas, who acted zealously in honor of Hashem, this caused ויכפר על בני ישראל – that Hashem forgives all Yidden present at a Bris.

Filed under Parshas Pinchas |