BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA 5772 ~ PARSHAS PINCHAS ~ Chatei- Sinning to save a Fellow From a Greater Sin

In this week's parsha the Torah relates the episode of the daughters of Tzlafchad. The daughters of Tzlafchad were exceedingly righteous and greatly desired a portion in Eretz Yisrael. The Gemara (Shabbos 96b) says that Tzlafchad was the mekoshesh - the one who desecrated Shabbos. It seems puzzling that the one who was famed for being a sinner in the dor hamidbar was equally famed for having such righteous children. Perhaps this can be better understood with the explanation of the Midrash that says that Tzlafchad's sin took place immediately after the sin of the meraglim and that it was done leshem shamayim - with pure intentions. When the Jews were informed that they would wander in thedesert for forty years, they thought that they don't have to keep Shabbos any longer. Therefore, Tzlafchad sinned to prove that they are required to keep Shabbos and all other mitzvos. Similarly, Targum Yonoson (15:32) explains that Tzlafchad realized that the Jews were unaware of the punishment for desecrating Shabbos, and he therefore felt it necessary to sacrifice his life in order to teach the nation the severity of Shabbos. The Maharsha (Bava Basra 119) explains that since his intention in desecrating Shabbos was merely to inspire the public, his act was essentially a melacha she'aina tzericha legufa which is only Rabbinically prohibited. It only appeared to be a Biblical desecration of Shabbos. Can such behavior truly be justified? Is there any room to allow one to violate a minor sin in order to save others from greater sins?(AUDIO HERE) PRINT VERSION HERE