I often remember something I heard another rabbi say:

I wish the Torah wasn’t always so relevant.

Let’s take a look at the past couple of weeks.

The attempted assassination of Trump (yes, old news now, but not fake news).

The Republican National Congress.

Trump with a bandaged ear.

And his martyrdom.

He suffered—and suffers—for the sake of his country, not a care in the world for himself.

Only a passion for “America” drives him.

Thus, he was anointed.

Chosen by God.

Destined to be president.

Because aren’t all the signs there???

Missing a deadly bullet with just a slight turn of the head at exactly the right moment…

Guess what!

Pinhas (our biblical character of the week) also gets anointed!

Yes, the same Pinhas who drove a sword through the bellies of an Israelite and his non-Israelite lover last week.

Because he is “passionate” for God.

Pinhas is destined to be priest—and all the generations that will come after.

But it makes me nervous that someone as violent as Pinhas is chosen by God.

It makes me wonder about my God—or at least the God of the Bible.

It also makes me nervous that someone who incites violence in our country is anointed by others—

Meanwhile, Biden steps down as the Democratic incumbent for president.

Yes, I would agree it was courageous.

It’s hard to admit when you’re not up for the job (Trump certainly won’t).

Of course, there was also an awful lot of pressure.

But it still does come in sharp contrast to Trump, the one who anoints himself.

Making the Torah even more relevant is what happens at the end of the Parsha;

Moses asks God, “Who shall come and go before the people” when Moses’ time comes to an end?

Moses knows that he is tired.

And Moses himself is given the task of appointing Joshua, physically passing his spiritual powers to the High Priest.

I see the parallels, but I’m not sure of the spiritual lesson.

Maybe it’s that we need to be really careful about claiming to have a direct connection to God.

We need to question ourselves—especially when we see a fervor for killing.

A fervor for murder.

A justification for it.

Because no matter who does it, it can not be God—at least not my God—that wants that.

I think we can extend this message—this questioning—to other situations that exist in the world today.

If killing and destruction are a part of what you think God wants of you, maybe that’s not God actually talking.

I would argue with that God.

I would protest—just like Moses does on several occasions.

So I guess my blessing for today is:

May we all continue to question ourselves and our beliefs, especially when the urge is violent.

And please say Amen.