tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17008074.post115264803562094574..comments2023-10-28T05:25:19.884-04:00Comments on Cause Today is Also Purim: Parshat Pinchas PrevertedPurim Herohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15580933686736335799noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17008074.post-1152715657213766532006-07-12T10:47:00.000-04:002006-07-12T10:47:00.000-04:00How quickly we've forgotten the end of Parshat Bal...How quickly we've forgotten the end of Parshat Balak.<BR/><BR/>24,000 people died in the plague that Hashem afflicted upon Am Yisrael for their sins of Pe'or and B'not Moav.<BR/><BR/>According to most commentaries, it was Pinchas' violent act that stopped the people from continuing their self-inflicted divine punishment. In other words, many in Bnei Yisrael couldn't care less what G-d commanded, as long as they could have their fling of the moment ("it's to die for").<BR/><BR/>Now think about what we know Hashem teaches us with regard to homosexuality and what the potential consequences are for all of us if we sit back - just like Moshe and the z'keinim did - and do nothing.<BR/><BR/>And it's bad enough that this should occur anywhere in Eretz Yisrael but even worse that it's planned for Yerushalyim. Is this what Hashem returned us back to Artzeinu Hakedosha for?<BR/><BR/>Parshat Arayot, in Vayikra 18, includes the prohibition of homosexuality, described as a to'evah - an abonimation. This is precisely what we read on Yom Kippur, for Mincha, at the height of the day. And it ends with the warning that should maybe be taken a bit seriously for a change by us modern day residents of Israel:<BR/><BR/><I>For the people of the land who preceded you, did all of these abominations, and the land became defiled.<BR/><BR/><B>And let the land not vomit you out for having defiled it, as it vomited out the nation that preceded you.</B><BR/><BR/>For anyone who commits any of these abominations, the persons doing so shall be cut off from the midst of their people.<BR/><BR/>And you shall observe My charge, not to commit any of the abominable practices that were done before you, and you shall not become defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.</I><BR/><BR/>We've been warned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com