Chukas – Peninim on the Torah

זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל

This is the teaching regarding a man who would die in a tent. (19:14)

Chazal (Shabbos 83b) teach, “A person should never be absent from the bais hamedrash, nor ever refrain from studying Torah – even at the moment of death. For it is stated, Zos haTorah adam ki yamus b’ohel, ‘This is the Torah – a man who dies in a tent.’ This pasuk teaches us that, even at the moment of death, one should be involved in the study of Torah.” Reish Lakish adds, “The words of Torah are not retained, except by one who kills himself (by refraining from unessential physical indulgences). As it is stated, ‘This is the Torah of…

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ויקחו אליך פרה אדומה תמימה

Sruly Schnair In Chukas, 5784

And they shall take a completely red cow which is without blemish. (19:2)

The Aderes Elyahu cites a yalkut that posits, Parah zu Yisrael; “Parah (Adumah), this is Yisrael.” Apparently, Chazal identify a metaphysical connection between the Parah Adumah and the Jewish People. Horav Mordechai Ilan, zl (Mikdash Mordechai), observes that Klal Yisrael demonstrated their spiritual mettle when they stood by Har Sinai and proclaimed, Naaseh v’nishma; “We will do and we will listen.” Hashem offered the Torah, with all of its qualities and demands, to which we committed ourselves without question. Hashem had previously offered this gift to the other nations, who had rejected it. They felt that the Torah’s demands did…

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זאת חקת התורה

Sruly Schnair In Chukas, 5784

This is the decree of the Torah. (19:2)

Being that the Torah, which is our blueprint for life, is Divinely-Authored, it is understandable that it is intrinsically “beyond human cognition.” Whatever we think we understand of it is the result of interpretation by mentors throughout the generations. They have plumbed its depths and transmitted their knowledge to future generations. Nonetheless, one does not know the actual, reason that Hashem chose a specific mitzvah for us to perform, or not to transgress. The reasoning that our gedolim have transmitted to us throughout the generations is only to make it easier for the human mind to accept. While some mitzvos…

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ויראו כל העדה כי גוע אהרן

Sruly Schnair In Chukas, 5783

And all the nation saw that Aharon was dead. (20:29)

When Miriam Ha’Neviah died, her loss to the nation became apparent, as the well (B’eirah shel Miriam) dried up. Likewise, when Aharon HaKohen died, his death was marked by an external manifestation; with the removal of the protective Ananei HaKavod, Pillars of Cloud, which traveled with them throughout their journeys. Chazal teach that there were three parnasim, providers, in whose merit Klal Yisrael benefited. Miriam, in whose merit they were sustained with water; Aharon, in whose merit the nation traveled without fear, as the clouds fended off any danger or obstacle; and Moshe Rabbeinu, in whose merit we were sustained…

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יען לא האמנתם בי להקדישני לעיני בני ישראל

Sruly Schnair In Chukas, 5783

Because you did not believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of Bnei Yisrael. (20:12)

Due to the nature of the sin of mei merivah, waters of strife, its ramifications for Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen, and, by extension, Klal Yisrael, it is understandable that multiple commentators weigh in on the subject. We will focus on Rashi’s commentary, which is the most basic, and, thus, one to which we can all relate from a practical point of view. Rashi (both here and in Sefer Devarim 32:51) explains that they sinned by striking the rock, when Hashem had instructed them to speak to it. Had they spoken to the rock and water emerged from it, Hashem’s…

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ויעלו אל הר ההר ... וימת אהרן שם בראש ההר

Sruly Schnair In Chukas, 5782

And they ascended Mount Hor … Then Aharon died there on Mount Hor. (20:27,28)

Rashi translates Har Hohor as Mountain of the Mountain, explaining that it was given its unique name due to its unique configuration. It was like that of a small apple perched on top of a large one, or like one mountain on top of another. The concept of apple and mountain with mountain above mountain or apple above apple begs elucidation. Horav Aryeh Leib Heyman, zl, offers a penetrating insight into understanding the double mountain/double apple relationship to Aharon HaKohen. He posits that Aharon integrated the middos, attributes, of Avraham Avinu with those of Yitzchak Avinu. Avraham was the paradigm…

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ויפשט משה את אהרן את בגדיו וילבש אתם אלעזר בנו וימת אהרן

Sruly Schnair In Chukas, 5782

Moshe stripped Aharon’s garments from him and dressed Elazar his son in them; then Aharon died. (20:28)

Ramban explains that the garments which Aharon HaKohen wore were the begadim, vestments, of the Kohen Gadol. Elazar, his son, was now being inducted into Kehunah Gedolah, High Priesthood, by wearing these vestments. Apparently, he had just concluded his Priestly service by: offering the Korban Tamid shel bein ha’arbaim, afternoon continued offering; burning the Incense; and kindling the menorah. Moshe brought Aharon up to Har Hohor, while he was still wearing the vestments. He then stripped him of them and dressed Elazar. According to the simple p’shat, plain understanding, Moshe dressed Aharon in tachrichim, burial shrouds. He then removed Elazar’s…

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זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל

Sruly Schnair In Chukas, 5782

This is the teaching regarding a man who would die in a tent. (19:14)

Chazal (Shabbos 83b) teach, “One should never refrain from (going to the) Bais ha’Medrash and from studying words of Torah – even during the moments prior to his taking leave of this world.” Torah reigns supreme and, without it, our lives are not the same. We should devote every minute that is available to Torah study – even at the time of death. Furthermore, Ein haTorah miskayemes ela b’mi she’meimis atzmo alehah; “The Torah is not maintained in a person unless he dies for it.” Adam ki yamus b’ohel, “If a man dies in a tent” has become the catch…

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ך את הסלע במטהו פעמים ויצאו מים רבים ותשת העדה ובעירם.

Sruly Schnair In Chukas, 5781

And he struck the rock with his staff twice; abundant water came forth, and the assembly and their animals drank. (20:11)

Hashem instructed Moshe Rabbeinu to speak to the rock. He also told him to fetch his staff – which he had earlier used to strike the rock that had previously provided the nation with water. Who knows? Clearly, whatever infraction was involved in Moshe’s striking the rock is beyond us. The mere fact that so many early commentators weigh in concerning the sin is a clear indication that the sin was esoteric and of the minutest form of misconduct. In other words, when one must search, dispute and delve into the action that represents the sin, it demonstrates that it…

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ויאמר להם שמעו נא המרים המן הזה נוציא לכם מים.

Sruly Schnair In Chukas, 5781

“Listen now, O rebels, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?” (20:10)

Miriam HaNeviah passed away. The water that had sustained Klal Yisrael for forty years was in her merit. Following her death, the water stopped flowing. When people have no water to drink, they react. They complained to Moshe Rabbeinu that they were thirsty. Moshe struck the rock, and it provided the necessary water. Hashem told Moshe, “Since you have not trusted in Me to sanctify Me before the People… you will not lead them in the Land.” Imagine, the quintessential leader of Klal Yisrael made one wrong decision, which is beyond our ability to comprehend, and he received a most…

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זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל

This is the teaching regarding a man who would die in a tent. (19:14)

ויקחו אליך פרה אדומה תמימה

And they shall take a completely red cow which is without blemish. (19:2)

זאת חקת התורה

This is the decree of the Torah. (19:2)

ויראו כל העדה כי גוע אהרן

And all the nation saw that Aharon was dead. (20:29)

יען לא האמנתם בי להקדישני לעיני בני ישראל

Because you did not believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of Bnei Yisrael. (20:12)

ויעלו אל הר ההר ... וימת אהרן שם בראש ההר

And they ascended Mount Hor … Then Aharon died there on Mount Hor. (20:27,28)

ויפשט משה את אהרן את בגדיו וילבש אתם אלעזר בנו וימת אהרן

Moshe stripped Aharon’s garments from him and dressed Elazar his son in them; then Aharon died. (20:28)

זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל

This is the teaching regarding a man who would die in a tent. (19:14)

ך את הסלע במטהו פעמים ויצאו מים רבים ותשת העדה ובעירם.

And he struck the rock with his staff twice; abundant water came forth, and the assembly and their animals drank. (20:11)

ויאמר להם שמעו נא המרים המן הזה נוציא לכם מים.

“Listen now, O rebels, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?” (20:10)

YEARS

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