Chukat

Spiritual Facilitation

Adapted from a d'var by Rabbi Kalman Kalonymous Shapira

Parshat Chukat opens with a description of the ritual that purifies a person after they have come in contact with a dead body. Paradoxically, the priests who perform the ritual become impure. A clue to understanding the paradox is found in the narrative of the parashah, if we understand water as a metaphor for divine Light. In Parshat Chukat, Miriam dies, the people can no longer find water, God instructs Moshe to speak to a rock so that water may flow from it, and Moshe strikes the rock instead.

Miriam attained great spiritual heights. The fact that she, as a woman, was released from the obligation to perform certain religious practices, made no difference. She performed even deeds that she was not obliged to perform. The force driving her to such exalted heights of piety was an exceptional yearning that gushed out from within her. With it, she was able to inspire the whole Jewish people with a longing to yearn for God, so that they could receive the supernal Light that Moshe brought down for them. Without Miriamís inspiration, the people could not yearn, and could not access the Light.

In order for Moshe to inspire the people, he had to participate in their experience. In order to help others, pious people sometimes have to sin. By hitting the rock, Moshe did what for him was counted as a sin. One assumes that Moshe immediately repented for his sin of disobedience and that the Israelites could participate in his longing for total forgiveness. The whole people were thereby elevated. As a result, a copious flow of water was forthcoming, and there was abundance and great salvation.

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