Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Chukkat NOW THEY CAME, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, TO THE WILDERNESS OF TZIN, IN THE FIRST NEW-MOON. THE PEOPLE STAYED IN KADESH. MIRIAM DIED THERE, AND SHE WAS BURIED THERE. NOW THERE WAS NO WATER FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO THEY ASSEMBLED AGAINST MOSHE AND AGAINST AHARON. (Bemidbar 20:102)   "Miriam died there, and she was buried there. Now there was no water for the community" – The lack of water was punishment...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Chukkat THIS IS THE RITUAL LAW THAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED. INSTRUCT THE ISRAELITE PEOPLE TO BRING YOU A RED COW WITHOUT BLEMISH, IN WHICH THERE IS NO DEFECT ON WHICH NO YOKE HAS BEEN LAID. YOU SHALL GIVE IT TO EL'AZAR THE PRIEST. IT SHALL BE TAKEN OUTSIDE THE CAMP AND SLAUGHTERED IN HIS PRESENCE. EL'AZAR THE PRIEST SHALL TAKE SOME OF ITS BLOOD WITH HIS FINGER AND SPRINKLE IT SEVEN TIMES TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE TENT OF MEETING. THE COW SHALL BE BURNED...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Shabbat Shalom Parshat Chukkat   And Moshe raised his hand and struck the boulder with his staff, twice, so that abundant water came out; and the community and their cattle drank.                                                                                           (Bemidbar 20:11)     The Striking of the Boulder –Response Out Of Desperation or Fulfillment of God’s Command?   Have we the right to investigate the feelings of Moshe our teacher at that moment? What was in the heart of ‘the servant of God’ – about whom God himself testified “in all my house, trusted is...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Hukat (link to original page) Parshat Hukat THE SIN OF MOSES … G-d rebuked both Moses and Aaron in the most severe manner ( in Deut. 32:51): "You were unfaithful to Me," "You did not uphold My sanctity" – and that was why G-d decreed that they would die outside Canaan. We ask, How did Moses break faith with G-d? What was his sin? How did he not uphold G-d's sanctity? These matters are not explained in the Torah. Those who studied and delved into the Torah raised many and varied...