Chukat
Numbers 19:1 - 22:1
Précis: The parasha begins with a discussion of the Red Heifer, used for ritual purification after one comes into contact with a dead body. The story then shifts to the death of Miriam, and the mourning by the entire people for her in the wilderness of Zin. With her death, the well of water which had accompanied their travels disappears, and Moses strikes a rock to provide water to the People, and learns that as a result he will not enter the Land. Soon thereafter, Aaron also dies and the Israelites engage in warfare with the Canaanites in a series of battles which end the parasha.
Numbers 20:12 "Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the Israelite people, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them."
One might think that the Bible would tell us more about the crisis which suddenly puts an end to the leadership of Moses. For what appears to be little reason, he is denied entry into the Promised Land. His twice striking of a rock to produce water needed by the Israelites (instead of speaking to it as God had ordered him to do) seems wholly inadequate to justify his most cherished ambition.
As is often the case, when the text itself offers little explanation, the rabbinic literature seems to rush in to fill the void. As noted by Ismar Schorsch, writing in the Chancellor’s Parashah Commentary (6/16/99), paying attention to the sequence of events can give us clues to what is not explicitly stated.
In our parasha, in rapid-fire order, the people arrive at the Wilderness of Zin. Miriam dies, and is buried. The people demand water, and Moses strikes a rock, with the dire consequences we observe. The Sages saw a connection between Miriam’s death and Moses’ actions: the lack of water came about because she had died. While Miriam lived, God providing a travelling well to accompany the People. When she died, the well disappeared, and Moses was forced to find an alternative source, leading to his downfall.
Imagine, for a moment, how important Miriam must have been to Moses. He owed life to her, since it was she who protected him in the Nile and persuaded Pharaoh’s daughter to allow his birth-mother to serve as his baby nurse. She helped lead the celebration at the Sea. When she died, his capacity to lead the People, based on his unlimited love of the People, disappeared. He bitterly calls them “rebels” as he strikes the rock that will bring his doom. As Rabbi Schorsch reminds us, “Prophecy is as much about defending Israel before God as it is about delivering God's will to Israel.”
Lessons? I see that there is room in our tradition to revere the role of women in our lives, not only in the background, and not only in ways limited to their gender. We also learn here that the “feminine” attribute of unreserved love is a necessary to attain prophetic status. Speaking as a male, since we seem to be fairly short of prophets these days, we’d certainly all be better off if we sought to fashion our actions after Moses, who himself was best guided by his sister.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
A Journey of a Thousand Miles.....
Korah
Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
Précis: Korah foments a rebellion, claiming that Moses and Aaron have taken too much power upon themselves. Dothan and Abiram also attack Moses’ leadership, claiming that Moses has brought them from a land of milk and honey (Egypt!) only to let them die in the wilderness. A test of fire offerings is arranged, and Korah and his followers are destroyed as the earth opens and swallows them. The People continue to complain, God threatens to destroy them once again, but Moses and Aaron intercede, ending a plague which had slain 14,000 people. A final test – that of staffs – is performed, and when Aaron’s staff miraculously blossoms on the following morning, it is clear that his status as High Priest is secure.
Numbers 16:3: “They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and God is in their midst. Why then do you set yourselves above God’s assembly?”
The figure of Korah gives us pause: while a rebel, his rebellion is not, at least on the surface, unreasonable. While he himself is slain, his descendants earn honor. Moses doesn’t try to disagree with his assertions directly. While Moses may not be all that upset, the text tells us that God is certainly angry, a point of view shared by most traditional commentators.
In Korah’s argument for a share of power, we hear echoes from Exodus 25:8, when the People are commanded to “make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them (“b'tochem"). Korah knows this verse when he says “The Eternal is in their midst (uv’tocham") in the verse we cite here. If the People are holy enough for God to dwell amongst them, Korah argues, they certainly deserve a measure of authority.
Korah understands the phrase to be descriptive: the people are already holy, each one, and the presence of God is within each one. On the other hand, Moses (and Jewish tradition) sees the matter in a very different way: the Jewish People are on a constant journey to achieve holiness. Seen in this light, the conflict between Moses and Korah is not one of power or of authority, but one of theology. Moses understands that ongoing spiritual growth is necessary, while Korah feels that holiness already has been achieved. Our tradition has sided with Moses. We are obligated to continually strive to merit God’s presence among us.
On a personal level, the lesson can be drawn that the path to professional achievement and to success in our interpersonal relationships is never completed - it is an area in which must continually strive.
Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
Précis: Korah foments a rebellion, claiming that Moses and Aaron have taken too much power upon themselves. Dothan and Abiram also attack Moses’ leadership, claiming that Moses has brought them from a land of milk and honey (Egypt!) only to let them die in the wilderness. A test of fire offerings is arranged, and Korah and his followers are destroyed as the earth opens and swallows them. The People continue to complain, God threatens to destroy them once again, but Moses and Aaron intercede, ending a plague which had slain 14,000 people. A final test – that of staffs – is performed, and when Aaron’s staff miraculously blossoms on the following morning, it is clear that his status as High Priest is secure.
Numbers 16:3: “They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and God is in their midst. Why then do you set yourselves above God’s assembly?”
The figure of Korah gives us pause: while a rebel, his rebellion is not, at least on the surface, unreasonable. While he himself is slain, his descendants earn honor. Moses doesn’t try to disagree with his assertions directly. While Moses may not be all that upset, the text tells us that God is certainly angry, a point of view shared by most traditional commentators.
In Korah’s argument for a share of power, we hear echoes from Exodus 25:8, when the People are commanded to “make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them (“b'tochem"). Korah knows this verse when he says “The Eternal is in their midst (uv’tocham") in the verse we cite here. If the People are holy enough for God to dwell amongst them, Korah argues, they certainly deserve a measure of authority.
Korah understands the phrase to be descriptive: the people are already holy, each one, and the presence of God is within each one. On the other hand, Moses (and Jewish tradition) sees the matter in a very different way: the Jewish People are on a constant journey to achieve holiness. Seen in this light, the conflict between Moses and Korah is not one of power or of authority, but one of theology. Moses understands that ongoing spiritual growth is necessary, while Korah feels that holiness already has been achieved. Our tradition has sided with Moses. We are obligated to continually strive to merit God’s presence among us.
On a personal level, the lesson can be drawn that the path to professional achievement and to success in our interpersonal relationships is never completed - it is an area in which must continually strive.
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