‘Parsha Growth Spurts’
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshas Chukas
“This is the decree of the Torah… a completely red cow, without blemish…” (Bamidbar 19:2)
Rashi explains that Satan and the nations would taunt Klal Yisroel about parah adumah. Therefore, the Torah states that it is ‘a decree of the Torah’, therefore no one has the right to question it.
There are many laws in the Torah for which we are not privy to reasons, such as shatnez and the prohibition of eating milk and meat together. Why did they specifically question parah adumah?
Rav Moshe Shternbuch shlita explains that offering the parah adumah entails many seemingly paradoxical components. The color red symbolizes blood and murder, so why is a completely red animal used as the offering to purify from tumah of a dead body? In addition, when the ashes of the parah adumah were sprinkled, the pure sprinkler became impure while the impure recipients of the sprinkling become pure. It is thosee inherent contradictory components that the nations question and mock.
On a deeper level, parah adumah represents the complexity and paradox of life. Klal Yisroel are the holiest and most elite of all nations, and yet there is no nation so persecuted and afflicted. We witness righteous people suffer and malicious sinners prosper.
The nations scoff and mock us just as they mock the parah adumah. About both of them our response is “This is the decree of the Torah – it is a decree from before Me”.
———————————————–
“B’nei Yisroel, the whole assembly, arrived in the Wilderness of Zin…Miriam died there.” (Bamidbar 20:1)
Rashi notes that the Torah juxtaposes the death of Miriam with parah adumah to symbolize that just as the ashes of parah adumah garner atonement so does the death of the righteous.
Rav Mordechai Rogov zt’l explained that in order for the death of the righteous to indeed serve as atonement, there must be similarities with the offering of the parah adumah. One of the vital steps of parah adumah was (19:9) “A pure man shall gather the ash of the cow and place it outside the camp in a pure place. For the assembly of Klal Yisroel it shall remain as a safekeeping, for water of sprinkling; it is for purification.”
In order for the death of a tzaddik to achieve atonement for the nation, his death cannot be completely ‘consumed’ in the sense that he is gone and forgotten. Rather, his proverbial ashes – the remains of his teachings and lessons – must be ‘gathered’ and preserved. They must be taught and remembered “for the assembly of Klal Yisroel it shall remain as safekeeping, for water of sprinkling; it is for purification”. If there is an increase in avodas Hashem because of the memory of the tzaddik, then there can be attainment of atonement, no less than the parah adumah.
During these weeks, Klal Yisroel is observing the first yahrtzeit of four devastating consecutive losses of Rav Yitzchok Koppelman zt’l, Rav Michel Lefkowitz zt’l, Rav Chaim Stein zt’l, and Rav Elazar Abuchatzeria zt’l. We have the tragic opportunity to achieve the purification of four parah adumahs if we will only strive to internalize some of the myriad lessons they taught and lived.
—————————————————
“Moshe sent emissaries from Kadesh to the King of Edom.” (Bamidbar 20:14)
This episode is recorded immediately after the tragic debacle of Mei Merivah, when the nation’s stubbornness caused Moshe to hit the rock. Moshe was immediately informed that because of what occurred he would be denied his greatest dream of entering Eretz Yisroel.
Tzror Hamor explains that one would think that after the nation had caused him such a devastating and crushing loss Moshe would want some time to himself, apart from the nation. But the following pasuk relates that Moshe sent emissaries to the King of Edom on behalf of the nation.
Herein lies one of the greatest testaments to the incredible devotion and paramount leadership of Moshe. Despite everything that had just transpired, he was able to maintain perspective of his mission and of his love for the nation that had just instigated him to the point where he committed an act which caused him irreparable damage. This is why he is forever called Rabbeinu.
Truthfully, this is the incredible burden and level for which every leader, educator, and parent strives to attain, to be able to maintain focus of their ultimate long-term goals and their love for their children, congregation, and students, even – or especially – when they least deserve it!
——————————————————
Sources: Rav Shternbuch – Ta’am Vada’as; Rav Rogov – Ateres Mordechai; Tzror Hamor – brought in his name