Parshat Mattot
Along with the one-thousand soldiers from each of the tribes that Moses sent to fight the war with Midyan, he also sent Pinchas who had succeeded in stopping the plague that broke out as a result of Israel falling prey to the enticement of the women of Midian and Moav, as described the end of the Torah portion of Balak. Pinchas being sent to war confirms a statement by the Sages that the merit of a mitzvah goes primarily to the one who finishes it. Since it was Pinchas who came and reminded Moses of what should be done to Zimri who publicly had taken a Midianite princes, Cozbi bat Zur, in order to cohabit with her, Moses said to Pinchas that since he was the one who revealed what should be done, he should be the one to carry it out. Due to the actions of Pinchas, the plague that was consuming the camp of Israel stopped.
This idea is discussed by the Sages regarding how Joseph was buried in Israel. Those who buried him are given credit for taking him out of Egypt and burying him although it was Moses who took the initiative to bring the body of Joseph out of Egypt to be buried in Israel. Since Moses did not enter the Promised Land, he could not finish the mitzvah of bearing Joseph, those that did bury him did receive the merit. From this we learn that the credit for any mitzvah is given to those who finish it.
This principle is easy to relate to in that so many times we begin a mitzvah, project or task and fail to finish it. This can be attributed to a host of reasons such as a loss of inspiration, focus or commitment. This is the understanding of a certain redundancy regarding when Abraham came to Israel: “And Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had acquired, and the souls they had acquired in Haran, and they went to go to the land of Canaan, and they came to the land of Canaan” (Genesis 12:6). If the verse says “they went to go to the land of Canaan,” why does it say “and they came to the land of Canaan.” This is to acknowledge that just because they set out to come to Israel, there was no guarantee that they actually would follow through or succeed.
There is one statement in the Talmud that “everything goes after the beginning;” whereas another statement claims that “everything goes after the sealing, [the conclusion].” Of course both of these statements are true depending on the frame of reference. These statements are further connected to what is written in the Sefer Yetzirah: “The beginning is wedged in the end and the end in the beginning” (1:7). From this we can learn that an unfinished mitzvah is not truly called mitzvah and that we should finish a mitzvah or action with the same enthusiasm that we began it.
A very good example is Yom Kippur. We begin this holiest of days with reciting the prayer, Kol Nedrei, full of awe and desire to draw close to God. As the day continues many people experience a weakening of the body and thus concentration due to the fasting. Yet, when the concluding service of Neila begins a new burst of energy is felt by all. The concluding climactic moments of Neila is full of the same awe and strength with which we started. This is a good model to emulate whenever beginning and concluding a mitzvah, good deed, project or task.
