CHUKAT:[NOT SUCH] BLIND FAITH
By: Suri Davis
This week’s torah portion starts with a law that is a chok, a law that has no human reason. It is G-d telling us to do something “because He says so.” The ashes of this rare red heifer purifies those who are not pure, impurifies those who are pure.
We are so very psychologically aware these days. We are taught to be patient and reason with our children and explain. This has given children the opportunity to respond that if they don’t understand the reasoning, don’t like the reasoning or disagree with the reasoning, maybe they don’t have to do what they are told to do. It is a wearing away of authority.
I suppose it is nothing new, challenging authority.
At the end of the torah portion, Moses tells some spies to check out Yazer, but instead of merely collecting information, they captured its villages. We hold our collective breaths here. Is that good or bad? They didn’t listen to G-d. He said collect information and they capture. It appears that their confidence in G-d was changed from the prior spy episode. They wanted to perform a tikkun/repair for their lack in faith in G-d of the last spy episode, and to do that repair, they stepped up from G-d’s command and showed that they had confidence that G-d would provide their victory. And they were victorious.
Today in Jewish history was when Nevuchadnezar king of Babylon breached the walls of the Holy Temple and King Ziddikayahu was taken into exile. Before the destruction of the second temple, today was the traditional day to fast the beginning of the destruction.
G-d has chosen the Jews as his favored nation. He had told us to stay purified/separated from other nations, to be a light unto the nation. In our desire to get closer to G-d, sometimes we fall and sin. But it is not forever. The spies this time around repaired the prior incident of lack of faith. There is always time to repent. A parent can never be angry at their child for too long.
As we near the three week period of mourning, it is a time of introspection, to look into ourselves to see what can be improved, and to do the necessary repairs. Remember that G-d never leaves us in a negative state. Focus on the last verse in lamentations that we recite together on the night of Tisha B’av: Hashivenu Hashem Aylecha V’nashuva, Chadesh Yameinu Kikedem/Return us to You, Gd, and we will repent, renew our days as in the days of yore.” Restore us to Your favor G-d and bring the final redemption. Amen.
Good Shabbos.
Suri