PARSHAS CHUKAS
Can you figure out what each picture has to do with the parsha?
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshas Chukas – Parsha Pix Key
Red Cow – The ashes of the para adumah were used to sprinkle and thereby purify anyone who had become tamei through contact with a dead body. The parah adumah had to be a completely red heifer – 19:2
No Trespassing – Moshe requested of Edom that they allow the Jews to traverse their land. But Edom refused. The same thing happened when Moshe made the same request of Sichon, king of Emori, and Og, king of Bashan – 20:18, 21:21, 22:33
Thirsty – The nation complained to Moshe that they had no water to drink which led to the calamitous debacle where Moshe struck the rock, instead of speaking to it – 20:2
Giant bye bye – Sichon and Og were giants and struck fear in the hearts of all their opponents. Nevertheless, Klal Yisroel defeated their armies and killed them – 21:24, 21:35
Kings Road – When Moshe requested from Edom and Sichon that they allow the Jews to pass through their land, Moshe said they would remain on “the king’s road” and not request food or drink – 20:17, 21:22
The caduceus (two snakes wrapped around a stick) – The symbol of medicine is likely rooted in parshas Chukas (predating Greek mythology) when snakes bit the Jews, after which Moshe erected a copper snake so that all who were afflicted would see it and be healed – 21:8
Beyond comprehension – The laws of parah adumah are the quintessential chok – a law beyond our comprehension – 19:2 (see Medrash)
Don’t be afraid – Hashem told Moshe not to fear Og and his armies when the nation went to fight him. Rashi explains that Moshe may have been particularly worried about fighting Og because a merit he had when he informed Avrohom of the capture of Lot many centuries earlier – 21:34
Graveyard – When Miriam died, the miraculous well of water ceased, as it had come in her merit. When that happened, the nation accused Moshe of bringing them in the desert to die of thirst. In the end, Moshe and Aharon were told that they would die in the desert. Aharon’s death is mentioned in the parsha as well. In addition, many Jews died from the plague of snakes – 20:1, 20:4, 20:28, 21:6
