B"H
Tuesday, Tammuz 5, 5781 / June 15, 2021
This week’s Parsha is Chukat – the sixth Parsha in the Book of Numbers.
The Parsha begins with the laws of the red heifer whose ashes, mixed with water, were used for the purification process of those who became spiritually unclean by coming in contact with a dead body.
In the Parsha we also read about the passing of two of the greatest leaders of Israel, Moshe’s sister Miriam, and his brother Aaron, the High Priest. Both passed away the same year. Miriam passed away on the 10th of Nissan; Aaron passed away close to five months later, on Rosh Chodesh Av.
Moshe also passed away less than a year after Miriam, on the 7th of Adar. His passing is recorded at the very end of the Torah. Miriam was 125 and Aaron was 123 at the time of their passing.
As leaders and shepherds of the people of Israel, Miriam and Aaron contributed not only to the spiritual welfare of the Jewish people, but also to their physical welfare.
Q. What were their physical contributions to the Jewish people during their travels in the desert?
A. Throughout the 40 years which the Jewish people were in the desert, a well was imbedded in a rock, which traveled with them and supplied the Jewish camp with all their waterneeds. When Miriam died, the well became dry. In Aaron’s merit, Jews were surrounded with “clouds of glory,” which protected them from the elements and from enemy danger. With Aaron’s death the clouds were gone.
Q. From where did they get their water supply after Miriam passed away?
A. After Miriam’s passing, the Jewish people complained that they had no water. G-d told Moshe to take his staff and together with Aaron speak to the rock and it will give water. However, instead of speaking to the stone, Moshe hitthe rock twice. The rock began flowing water again. However, hitting the rock was considered a sin and as a result, Moshe and Aaron were punished by being barred entry into the Promised Land.
Q. Why was the water supply for the Jewish people given in the merit of Miriam?
A. G-d rewards measure for measure. After Moshe’s birth, when he was three months old, Moshe’s mother placed him in a basket at the river’s edge, due to Pharaoh’s decree to drown all Jewish males. Miriam, who was then five years old, stood at the river-bank to watch her brother. Miriam made sure that Moshe was protected. When Pharaoh’s daughter rescued Moshe from the water Miriam introduced her own mother (who was also Moshe’s mother) to nurse the baby. Because of her dedication to Moshe at the water, G-d rewarded her that the supply of water to the Jewish nation during their forty year journey in the desert, was in her special merit – measure for measure.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY