This week’s parsha Chukat tells the well-known story of Moses striking the rock. God instructs Moses and Aaron to gather the people and to order the rock to produce water. In a dramatic moment, Moses says, “Listen, you rebels, shall we get water for you out of this rock?” strikes the stone, and out comes water. But because of his actions Moses is not allowed to enter the land of Israel.
What were the sins of Moses that led to such punishment?
1) Moses lashed out at the people (“Listen, you rebels….”), when he was supposed to lead them and provide for them. The lashing out seems to have as much to do with pent up anger as the current situation.
2) Moses’ rebuke of the people took the attention to Aaron and Moses (“shall we get water” … onto the individuals) instead of God (the purpose).
3) Moses struck the rock (what felt good) versus speaking to the rock (what he was supposed to do and was less “natural”).
From this story we as a community can learn several important lessons:
1) We must openly address our challenges, not allow past issues to prevent us from building the community.
2) We are all individuals, but working with our communal institutions affords us great privilege, not only for today, but for our future.
3) We must have difficult discussions, acknowledge the realities and not opt for what “feels good.” The gap between where we are and where we need to be is the creative tension that is the spark that will allow us to create greatness.
At the end of this story is a valuable leadership and community lesson. God did not let the sins of the leaders punish the people of Israel; the water still came from the rock and the people and the animals were nourished and protected.
Let us focus on our community’s needs, remember our higher goal, and commit to do the hard work of addressing honestly where we are and where we need to go.
We can learn from the lessons of Moses; we can improve our culture and how we interact with each other. We must. With our leadership and commitment to the next generations of Jewish Atlanta, I know that we will.
Shabbat Shalom!
Parsha Summary
General Overview: This week's Torah reading, Chukat, begins with a discussion regarding the laws of the red heifer. Miriam and Aaron die. When the Jews are in need of water, Moses strikes a rock – despite being commanded to talk to it. Waters stream forth, but Moses is banned from entering Israel. Amalek battles the Israelites and is defeated. Edom andMoab refuse the Israelites passageway to Israel. The Israelites battle Sichon and Og, and are victorious.
First Aliyah: The most severe of all ritual impurities is tum'at met, the impurity contracted through contact with a human corpse. This section details the purification process for an individual or object which has contracted this form of impurity. A red heifer is slaughtered and is burned together with a few added ingredients. Water from a stream is added to the ashes. On the third and seventh day after contracting tum'at met, this mixture is sprinkled upon the individual or object. After immersion in amikvah (ritual pool), the person or object is freed of this impurity.
Second Aliyah: The abovementioned purification process is continued, along with an admonition that the impure individual not enter theTabernacle or Temple until the purification process is completed. Miriam dies in the fortieth year of the Israelites' sojourn in the desert. With Miriam's death, the waters which flowed from the miraculous "Well of Miriam" dried up. The people complain bitterly about the lack of water.
Third Aliyah: G‑d tells Moses and Aaron to take a staff and gather the people in front of a certain rock. They should speak to the rock, and it will give forth water. Moses and Aaron gather everybody, and Moses strikes the rock and it gives forth water. In the course of this episode they committed a grave error, the conventional explanation being that they struck the rock instead of speaking to it. This caused G‑d to punish Moses and Aaron, barring them from leading the Jews into Israel.
Fourth Aliyah: Moses sends messengers to the King of Edom requesting permission to pass through his land (which is south of Canaan) on the way to the Promised Land. Despite Moses' promises not to cause any harm to the land whilst passing, Edom refuses the Jews passage. The Jews are therefore forced to circumvent the land of Edom, and approach Canaan from the east.
Fifth Aliyah: The Jews arrive at Mount Hor. At G‑d's command, Moses, Aaron and Aaron's son, Elazar, go up the mountain. Aaron removes hishigh priest's vestments and Elazar dons them. Aaron then passes away. The entire nation mourns Aaron's death for thirty days. The Amalekites, disguised as Canaanites, attack the Jews. The Jews pray to G‑d and are victorious in battle. The Jews complain about their food, claiming that they are "disgusted" by the manna. G‑d dispatches serpents into the Israeliteencampment, and many Jews die. Moses prays to G‑d on the Jews' behalf. Following G‑d's instructions, Moses fashions a copper serpent and places it atop a pole. The bitten Jews would look at this snake and be healed.
Sixth Aliyah: The Jews journey on, making their way towards the eastern bank of the Jordan River. Encrypted in this section is a great miracle which occurred when the Jews passed through the Arnon valley. Tall cliffs rose from both sides of this narrow valley, and in the clefts of these cliffs the Emorites, armed with arrows and rocks, were waiting to ambush the Jews. Miraculously, the mountains moved towards each other, crushing the Emorite guerrilla forces. This section ends with a song of praise for the well which sustained the Jews throughout their desert stay -- and whose now-bloodied waters made the Jews aware of the great miracle which G‑d wrought on their behalf.
Seventh Aliyah: The Jews approach the land of the Emorites, which lies on the east bank of the Jordan River. They send a message to Sichon, king of the Emorites, asking permission to pass through his land en route to Canaan. Sichon refuses and instead masses his armies and attack the Jews. The Jews are victorious and occupy the Emorite lands. Og, king of Bashan, then attacks the Jews. The Jews are triumphant again; they kill Og and occupy his land too. Now the Jewish nation has reached the bank of the Jordan River, just across from the city of Jericho in the land of Israel.
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