And the story of Pinḥas, as told in Bamidbar Rabbah, shines a light on just how vital shalom is.

The story begins with a moment of intense crisis. The Israelites are straying, and divine wrath is building. But then, Pinḥas, grandson of Aaron the priest, steps forward. He acts with a fierce, unwavering zeal, stopping the transgression in its tracks. And what does God say? "Pinḥas, son of Elazar, son of Aaron the priest, has caused My wrath to be withdrawn from the children of Israel...and I did not destroy the children of Israel in My zealotry" (Numbers 25:11).

Pretty dramatic, right? But the story doesn't end there. God then declares, "Behold, I am giving him My covenant of peace" (Numbers 25:12). Wait a minute...peace? Why peace after such a violent act? That's the key. That's the lesson. The Bamidbar Rabbah makes it clear: peace is the ultimate reward, the most precious gift.

Why? Because, as the text tells us, the world is conducted only through peace. Think about it. Without peace – without stability, harmony, and understanding – nothing can truly flourish. The Torah itself, it says, is peace! "Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its pathways are peace [shalom]" (Proverbs 3:17). The entire Torah is saturated with peace.

This idea of peace permeates Jewish life. Consider the simple greeting, "Shalom." We use it constantly. When someone arrives, we greet them with peace. Rabbi Shimon be Ḥalafta even says, "The only vessel that holds blessing is peace." That's a powerful image, isn't it? Peace as a container, holding and nurturing all the good things in life.

And it goes beyond just greetings. We find peace woven into the very fabric of our prayers. The blessing after the Shema, "Who spreads a canopy of peace over His people..." The concluding words of the Amidah, the central prayer, are about peace. Even the Priestly Benediction ends with peace. Everywhere we turn, shalom is there.

According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, Pinḥas's actions were controversial. Some questioned his methods, his zealotry. But God's covenant of peace affirms his actions – not necessarily the violence itself, but the ultimate goal: to restore harmony and prevent further chaos.

So, what does this all mean for us today? It means that peace isn't just the absence of conflict. It's an active force. It's something we strive for, something we cultivate. It's the foundation upon which we build our lives, our communities, and our world. Maybe the story of Pinḥas isn’t about endorsing violence, but about recognizing that true peace sometimes requires difficult, even uncomfortable, actions. It's a challenge, isn’t it? To be like Pinḥas in our own way, striving for peace, even when it's hard, knowing that it's the most valuable gift we can give and receive. As it is stated: "The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace" (Psalms 29:11).