Parshas Chukas -- 30 Sivan, 5771 / July 2, 2011 -- Vol. 2, Issue 18
In this week’s parsha, Chukas, the famous event in which Moshe Rabbeinu hits the rock and is subsequently forbidden to enter the land of Israel takes place. The question of course arises as to how Moshe, the greatest and most humble man to have ever lived, a true servant of Hashem, made such a tremendous error which left him to stand on the sidelines unable to enter the holy land which he had spent 40 years leading our nation towards?
The commentaries explain that Hashem had instructed Moshe to speak to the rock in order for it to bring forth water for the Jewish people. The Sages teach that Hashem was referring to the same rock which an angel had revealed to Hagar when her son Yishmael was dying of thirst, and the same rock which Moshe was commanded to draw water from nearly forty years before.
Moshe began looking for the rock but couldn’t find it. So Moshe started speaking to other rocks, but nothing was happening and no water was flowing. Moshe thought that perhaps speaking to the rock would not be enough and that similar to the miracle that was performed by the Exodus from Egypt he would need to strike the rock to bring water forth. However, since this was not what Hashem instructed, when Moshe hit the rock the first time only a trickle of water came out, and it took a second hit for the water to gush forth.
In life, we must strive to always look for the correct way to do things in accordance with Hashem’s will. Sometimes we have trouble deciphering the appropriate route to take and we feel as though Hashem has hidden himself from us; like the rock. We may even have found an alternate route in which we could be successful, however this is not the path that Hashem has instructed us to take.
Even though Moshe was told he would not enter the land of Israel, nevertheless he pressed forward as the leader of the Jewish people guiding them as long as he lived. This is a lesson for us. We must always press forward even when we feel as though we have suffered defeat, for it is specifically those times when we have the potential for the greatest growth.
The commentaries explain that Hashem had instructed Moshe to speak to the rock in order for it to bring forth water for the Jewish people. The Sages teach that Hashem was referring to the same rock which an angel had revealed to Hagar when her son Yishmael was dying of thirst, and the same rock which Moshe was commanded to draw water from nearly forty years before.
Moshe began looking for the rock but couldn’t find it. So Moshe started speaking to other rocks, but nothing was happening and no water was flowing. Moshe thought that perhaps speaking to the rock would not be enough and that similar to the miracle that was performed by the Exodus from Egypt he would need to strike the rock to bring water forth. However, since this was not what Hashem instructed, when Moshe hit the rock the first time only a trickle of water came out, and it took a second hit for the water to gush forth.
In life, we must strive to always look for the correct way to do things in accordance with Hashem’s will. Sometimes we have trouble deciphering the appropriate route to take and we feel as though Hashem has hidden himself from us; like the rock. We may even have found an alternate route in which we could be successful, however this is not the path that Hashem has instructed us to take.
Even though Moshe was told he would not enter the land of Israel, nevertheless he pressed forward as the leader of the Jewish people guiding them as long as he lived. This is a lesson for us. We must always press forward even when we feel as though we have suffered defeat, for it is specifically those times when we have the potential for the greatest growth.
Parshas Chukas: Because I Said So!
Most of us can remember all too well the following scenario. We’re in the store and we ask our parents to buy us a certain item. They respond, “Not this time,” but hardly deterred, we press forward asking again and again. No answer or reason will suffice for us as we inquire “but why” like a broken record. That is until we hear those dreaded four words, “because I said so!”
These four words when combined form an all too familiar proverbial saying that we heard one too many times when we were young and promised that we ourselves would never dream of using as an answer with our own children. This undoubtedly was only true until we actually had children and now find ourselves sounding exactly like our parents.
I have to admit that many times as a child I was given reasons and explanations as to why the answer was no. Not only were reasons given but full blown explanations and detailed stories illustrated to give over a specific point so that I would listen to my parents’ instruction and understand what it is that was allowed, and forbidden. Looking back there isn’t a specific explanation that stands out that I still remember. However, when all else failed and the why’s kept coming I knew that the final answer would be; because I said so!
The truth is that for nearly every reason there is a counter reason that can be given as well. Logic and reason only go so far, which is why Reb Michel of Zlotchev used to say, “I have but one request. May I never use my reason against truth.”
So what exactly is it about not having a reason that is so powerful, so sustainable, and so long lasting that the Jewish people have been able to keep Hashem’s laws, just because he said so?
Let’s examine and dissect the above mentioned phrase for a moment. “Because I said so.” The operative word here is the “I”. The focus is on the person who is making the law. Now what does it matter which person is setting out the rules?
Think for a moment how you would respond if a completely random person approached you instructing you not to enter your living room for the next two days and the only reason they gave you was because they didn’t want you to. Chances are you would completely disregard their request and go in and out of the room as you pleased; after all, it is your house.
Now let’s change the situation a little. You come home from work and your spouse asks you not to go in the living room for the next two days, and when you ask her why the only reason she can give you is because she is asking you to. Most of us would respect our spouse’s wishes. There are hundreds, even thousands of reasons why they might not want us to go in the living room and our curiosity would be huge, but still we would ultimately listen to their wishes. Why? Good question!
It is because of the “I”. It is our connection, our relationship, our deep bond to the other person which allows us to commit to their request with no explainable rationale. We know that there is no way that our spouse would ask us to do something unless it was in our benefit, and therefore we are able to forego logic and reason and look to the bigger picture.
In this regard, a child’s relationship to his parent is the same. Deep down, even though a child may be unhappy with not getting what they want, it is because of their commitment to their parents that they follow their rules even when they seemingly don’t make any sense.
In this week’s parsha, Hashem delineates for the Jewish people the ultimate chok (commandment without a reason); the Red Heifer and how its ashes purify a person who has become impure. One might ask, “Why should I keep the commandments that I don’t understand? If Hashem really wants me to follow them, He would explain them to me!”
In actuality, it is the opposite which is true. It is precisely because we are so special to Hashem that he feels he can ask us to do something without telling us why. Hashem always has our best interest in mind; however our willingness to abide by His directives heavily relies on how close we feel and how intimate our relationship with Him is.
These four words when combined form an all too familiar proverbial saying that we heard one too many times when we were young and promised that we ourselves would never dream of using as an answer with our own children. This undoubtedly was only true until we actually had children and now find ourselves sounding exactly like our parents.
I have to admit that many times as a child I was given reasons and explanations as to why the answer was no. Not only were reasons given but full blown explanations and detailed stories illustrated to give over a specific point so that I would listen to my parents’ instruction and understand what it is that was allowed, and forbidden. Looking back there isn’t a specific explanation that stands out that I still remember. However, when all else failed and the why’s kept coming I knew that the final answer would be; because I said so!
The truth is that for nearly every reason there is a counter reason that can be given as well. Logic and reason only go so far, which is why Reb Michel of Zlotchev used to say, “I have but one request. May I never use my reason against truth.”
So what exactly is it about not having a reason that is so powerful, so sustainable, and so long lasting that the Jewish people have been able to keep Hashem’s laws, just because he said so?
Let’s examine and dissect the above mentioned phrase for a moment. “Because I said so.” The operative word here is the “I”. The focus is on the person who is making the law. Now what does it matter which person is setting out the rules?
Think for a moment how you would respond if a completely random person approached you instructing you not to enter your living room for the next two days and the only reason they gave you was because they didn’t want you to. Chances are you would completely disregard their request and go in and out of the room as you pleased; after all, it is your house.
Now let’s change the situation a little. You come home from work and your spouse asks you not to go in the living room for the next two days, and when you ask her why the only reason she can give you is because she is asking you to. Most of us would respect our spouse’s wishes. There are hundreds, even thousands of reasons why they might not want us to go in the living room and our curiosity would be huge, but still we would ultimately listen to their wishes. Why? Good question!
It is because of the “I”. It is our connection, our relationship, our deep bond to the other person which allows us to commit to their request with no explainable rationale. We know that there is no way that our spouse would ask us to do something unless it was in our benefit, and therefore we are able to forego logic and reason and look to the bigger picture.
In this regard, a child’s relationship to his parent is the same. Deep down, even though a child may be unhappy with not getting what they want, it is because of their commitment to their parents that they follow their rules even when they seemingly don’t make any sense.
In this week’s parsha, Hashem delineates for the Jewish people the ultimate chok (commandment without a reason); the Red Heifer and how its ashes purify a person who has become impure. One might ask, “Why should I keep the commandments that I don’t understand? If Hashem really wants me to follow them, He would explain them to me!”
In actuality, it is the opposite which is true. It is precisely because we are so special to Hashem that he feels he can ask us to do something without telling us why. Hashem always has our best interest in mind; however our willingness to abide by His directives heavily relies on how close we feel and how intimate our relationship with Him is.