Aliya-by-Aliya Parshat Chukat 5758

[Numbers] are the Chinuch's mitzva count

KOHEN - First Aliya - 17 p'sukim (19:1-17)

This whole Aliya plus the following 5 p'sukim deal with the topic of the PARA ADUMA. (The 22 verses of chapter 19 constitute the Maftir for Shabbat Parshat Para.) The mitzva involves taking a cow with reddish hair (even two black hairs invalidate it), that is blemish-free (i.e. fit for the Altar) and that has not worn a yoke or carried a burden for people. (If it carried upon its back something for its own benefit - e.g. a blanket to keep flies away - it is still acceptable.) Elazar b. Aharon was in charge of the preparation of this first Para Aduma.

[SDT] "And G-d spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying... DABEIR (you Moshe, not both of you, DABRU) to the children of Israel... Only Moshe could tell the people about the PARA ADUMA, which is an atonement for the Sin of the Golden Calf. Aharon was too involved in the Golden Calf episode. He didn't tell this mitzva to the people and he didn't prepare the PARA ADUMA, his son did. Yet the verse tells us that G-d spoke to both Moshe and Aharon. Perhaps this contains a private rebuke by G-d to Aharon... And perhaps a bit of the opposite as well.

[SDT] Rashi says that the mitzva is for the Vice Kohen Gadol to tend to the Para Aduma, although any kohen qualifies. Commentaries see a symbolism in the son of Aharon doing the work: just as the cow atones (so to speak) for her calf, so too the son atones for his father who was somewhat involved in the Golden Calf.

"Take a PARA ADUMA T'MIMA..." T'MIMA usually means blemish- free, fit for the Altar. However, here the word T'MIMA is followed by the phrase "that has no MUM (blemish)", making the adjective T'MIMA superfluous. There fore, we are taught that T'MIMA in this context is describing ADUMA, indicating that COMPLETE reddish hair is required. Without T'MIMA, a cow that was a "jinjy" would be acceptable even if it had some non-red hairs. Not so, because of the word T'MIMA.

As opposed to all korbanot in the Mikdash which had to be brought "inside", the Red Heifer is slaughtered and prepared "outside". It is not a korban, but it does have korban-like features (atonement, among others). After the cow is slaughtered, it is burnt whole (some of its blood having been sprinkled towards the Mikdash first).

The complete process of the Para Aduma (including what is thrown into the fire, how the ashes are collected and how the potion is made) is a positive mitzva [397] that has been fulfilled nine times, so far. The next and tenth time will be in the time of the Moshiach.

A person who comes in contact with a dead body is rendered ritually impure for a seven-day period [398]. The "Para Aduma Potion" (a.k.a. Lustral Water) is to be sprinkled on the defiled person on the third and seventh day. Without this procedure, the state of ritual impurity remains forever. It is most important to avoid entering the Mikdash while one is defiled.

Intentional violation is a (Divinely imposed) capital offense.

MITZVA WATCH

Today, without a Beit HaMikdash, the are (at least) three ramifications of the rules of ritual impurity to the dead.

(1) A kohen must still avoid contact with a dead body (except those of his close relatives for whom he sits shiva), even though he is already "tamei".

(2) We are not permitted to go onto Har HaBayit in those areas that the Beit HaMikdash and its courtyard stood (or might have stood).

(3) Some gifts of the Kohen (such as t'ruma, t'rumat maaser, challa) are not given to a kohen, but are "disposed of" according to alternate halachic procedures.

[SDT] Many forms of ritual impurity require immersion in a mikve, and that's all. Mikve is done by the person him/herself. Not so with ritual impurity due to contact with a dead body. Mikve is part of the purification process, but so is the Lustral Water. And that cannot be done alone. Another person MUST be involved. Think about what it means.

LEVI - Second Aliya - 11 p'sukim (19:18-20:6)

The Torah summarizes the Para Aduma procedures.

Note that the cedar branch and hyssop are added to the potion as well as to the burning of the Para Aduma. Commentaries see special signifi cance in the fact that the cedar is a lofty tree and the hyssop is a lowly shrub.

The dual nature of the Para Aduma potion (that it purifies the defiled and defiles the ritually pure) is counted as a mitzva of its own [399]. (Some draw an analogy to some medicines that can cure an ill person but would make a healthy person sick. The Para Aduma is one of our spiritual medications.)

SHLISHI - Third Aliya - 7 p'sukim (20:7-13)

In response, G-d tells Moshe to take the Staff, gather the People, and that he (Moshe) and Aharon should speak to the rock in the presence of the People that the rock shall give forth its water for the People and their flocks. Moshe gathers the People and admonishes them to witness another of G-d's miracles. He lifts the Staff and strikes the rock twice; water flows from it in abundance.

G-d gets "angry" at Moshe and Aharon for missing an opportunity to sanctify G-d's Name by having the People see water come from the rock by merely speaking to it. (The People had previously seen water come from a struck rock.) G-d decrees that neither Moshe nor Aharon shall lead the People into the Land of Israel.

(Because of the inclusion of Aharon in this decree, there is an implication that he was not held accountable for any involvement in the Golden Calf - a point that needed clarification. Rashi says that the Torah is telling us that Moshe and Aharon would have gone into Eretz Yisrael, except for this, and only this sin. Interesting that Moshe himself tells the people that he carries some of the blame for the Sin of the Spies.

On the other hand, Aharon IS held accountable in this case, even though it was Moshe who "called the shots..)

G-d's decree seems excessively harsh on Moshe and Aharon. Commentators point to this as an example of how strictly G-d judges the greatest of our people.

Observation...

Note that the rock gives forth water even though Moshe did not speak to it, as G-d had said. There are two possibilities (maybe) as to why.

(1) It avoids a Chilul HaShem that would result if the miracle did not happen.

(2) Moshe Rabeinu was on the high level that he was able to control and divert nature (with limits). He had previously stricken a rock to get water; this now is something he can do.

(3) A twist on the Chilul HaShem possibility of (1) is that G-d wanted to avoid Moshe's losing face. G-d and Moshe are very much partners, so to speak, in the perception of the People. At the Sea, the people believed in "HaShem and in Moshe His servant. In contrast, their lack of faith is expressed as their talking against G-d and against Moshe. These are the only times U'V'MOSHE is used.

R'VI'I - Fourth Aliya - 8 p'sukim (20:14-21)

Moshe sends messengers to the People of Edom, recounting Israel's brief history and requesting right of way through Edomite land. The request is denied. A second attempt is made to obtain permission; this too is strongly rejected. The People of Israel change their route in order to avoid encountering Edom (at G-d's command).

[SDT] In asking for passage through Edom territory, Moshe's messengers state that the people "will not drink water of a well". Rashi says that we would have expected the Torah to say "the water of cisterns". Rashi explains that Edom had the cisterns; we had a miraculous well (as well as Manna for food). What we were offering Edom was the profits from selling us food and water. We had no need for their food and drink, but it was a proper offer to make. Rashi says that when staying at an inn, one should partake of the inn's meals rather than "brown bag it". This increases the benefit to the hotelier.

CHAMISHI - Fifth Aliya - 17 p'sukim (20:22-21:9)

The People travel from Kadesh to Hor HaHar. There Aharon is to die. Moshe takes Aharon and Elazar up the mountain, where the garments of the Kohen Gadol are transferred from Aharon to his son and successor. ALL the people mourn Aharon's death for 30 days. Commentaries point out that Aharon's death had elements that were missing in Moshe's. Seeing his son continue in his footsteps and being loved by the people as Aharon was, adds a special dimension to Aharon's full life.

The Midrash says that the Heavenly Clouds that protected the People, left upon Aharon's death.

[SDT] We can see now that the miracles of the Midbar were each associated with one of our leaders: Moshe, the Manna; Aharon, the Clouds; Miriam, the Well.

Just as an aside... The first bracha of Birkat HaMazon is attributed to Moshe Rabeinu in acknowledgement to G-d for the Manna. It fits. And Miriam's connection to the Well is obvious. As is Aharon's to the Clouds. Ohel Moed.

That made them vulnerable to attack from Emori. The attack was success- fully countered by Israel. The People then tired of their extended travels and complained once again to G-d and Moshe. Their tirade included gross disrespect to G-d's miracle of the Manna. For this they were punished by an attack of "fiery" snakes that bit many people, causing many deaths. The People repented and pleaded with Moshe to pray to G-d to spare them. G-d told Moshe to fashion a copper snake and mount it atop a staff, so that anyone who would see it (i.e. turn their eyes and hearts towards G-d) would live. (It is very likely that the medical insignia - the caduceus - is based on this Biblical episode.)

[SDT] The Meshech Chochma asks: How do we know that during the years in the Wilderness there was not even one case of an accidental homicide (SHOGEG)? Because the punishment for this type of man slaughter is "exile to a city of refuge". The perpetrator remains in the Ir Miklat until the death of the Kohen Gadol. Had someone been in that situation, Aharon's death would have been accompanied by a bit of rejoicing by the released killer and his family. But the Torah says that ALL the house of Israel cried for Aharon, hence...

[SDT] Rashi points out that G-d told Moshe to make a SARAF (form of a snake) and mount it on a staff. Moshe made it out of copper (this was not specified in his instructions) as a play on words - NACHASH, snake; N'CHOSHET, copper. The words sound alike. This is one of several demonstrations that Hebrew is the original language of the Torah.

The Mishna in P'sachim (4:9) records different things that Chizkiyahu HaMelech did, and was either praised for them, or not. He destroyed the Copper Serpent and the Sages approved of his actions. People were misusing it, and misunderstanding it. However neces sary it was in the Midbar, it always had the potential to backfire. It never was really what was supposed to be good for us.

SHISHI - Sixth Aliya - 11 p'sukim (21:10-20)

The People continue their travels, and arrive at a place known as "the Well". This was another significant event related to water. From a physical point of view, water is by far the most valuable "commodity" of the wandering Nation. On a spiritual level, water represents Torah and Life itself. The "Song of the Well", a short but beautiful song is recorded, high lighting the preciousness of water. The words are filled with symbolisms and allusions.

SH'VI'I - Seventh Aliya - 16 p'sukim (21:21-22:1)

As Israel approaches the lands of Emori, requests are made for rights of passage. Not only are these requests denied, but Emori sends an army to encounter Israel. Israel is completely victorious against King Sichon, and conquers the lands of Emori and Cheshbon. Further battles result in more Emori lands. Og, king of Bashan, also falls, as G-d had promised.

[SDT] It is important to note that Israel's military might is not absolute, nor are their military options equal. Israel fights against whom G-d tells us to, and we do not engage in battle anyone that G-d forbids us to. It is irrelevant whether Edom was stronger or weaker than Emori. We didn't fight the latter and avoid the former for military reasons. G-d is the One in charge. We have to always keep this in mind; and it would help if our enemies knew this as well. Ironically, it is our enemies who sometimes seem to believe in G-d's role in these kind of matters, whereas we sometimes seem to stubbornly deny His role.

[SDT] Rashi explains why G-d had to tell Moshe not to fear fighting against Og. Og was the sole survivor of the Flood (except for Noach and those in the Teiva), and he was the one who told Avraham Avinu that nephew Lot had been taken into captivity. Perhaps he had earned enough merit to resist the Israelites. G-d told Moshe not to worry.

Israel's military victories in the Midbar, towards the end of the period of wandering, were very important for the morale of the people as they faced long years of many battles upon crossing the Jordan River into Eretz Yisrael. In the Midbar, they get a taste of G-d's promises and might.

The final pasuk tells us that Israel traveled and arrived at Arvot Moav - this is their final stop before entry into Eretz Yisrael.

[SDT] Note the significance of the above statement. The four remaining sedras of Bamidbar and all 11 of D'varim are still in front of us, and we are already at Arvot Moav. Mas'ei will give a summary of the wandering, but with the conclusion of Chukat, we have arrived at the threshold of Eretz Yisrael. Remember that back in Mikeitz we left the Land and went down into Egypt. Now we are readying ourselves to return.

The final 3 p'sukim are reread for the Maftir.

Haftara - 33 p'sukim - Sho'f'tim 11:1-33

The haftara consists of most of the story of Yiftach, the at-first scorned, later sought after, son of Gil'ad. He was shunned by his "half-brothers" and fled to the Land of Tov where he lived a rogue's life. The people of the Gil'ad region are attacked by the Ammonites and they pursue Yiftach to be their leader. In the description of the wars with Amon, reference is made to the historical background of the area - specifically, the episode recorded in the sedra about Israel requesting permission from Emori (the area's original inhabitants) for passage through their territory. This is a major connection to the sedra. The story of Yiftach seems to be peripheral to the reason that Chaza"l chose this reading as the haftara of Chukat. And yet... the haftara ends with the first part of the story of Yiftach's vow and the resultant fiasco with his daughter. Chaza"l generally consider Yiftach to have erred in his actions; such a vow as his would be halachically invalid under the circum stances. The significance (if any) of the story of Yiftach's daughter vis-a-vis the sedra is elusive.