B"H
Thursday, Tammuz 7, 5785 / July 3, 2025
In this week’s Parsha, Chukat, we read about the passing of two of the greatest leaders of the Jewish people: Moshe’s sister Miriam, and his brother Aaron, the High Priest.
All three of them passed away within the period of one year - in the 40thyear after the Exodus. Miriam passed away first on the 10th of Nissan; Aaron passed away four months later, on Rosh Chodesh Av. Moshe passed away less than a year after Miriam, on the 7th of Adar. Miriam and Aaron’s passing is recorded in this week’s Parsha, Chukat. Moshe’s passing is recorded at the very end of the Torah.
As leaders of the people of Israel, Miriam, Aaron and Moshe contributed not only to the spiritual welfare of the Jewish people, but also to their physical welfare. To a Jew, physical and spiritual are connected.
Q. What were their contributions to the physical welfare of the people during their 40 years in the desert?
A. Throughout the 40 years which the Jewish people were in the desert, a wellwas imbedded in a rock, which traveled with them and supplied the Jewish camp withthe water they needed. 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. In Moshe’s merit they had their daily manna from heaven for forty years.
Q. From where did they get their water supply after Miriam passed away?
A. The story is told in this week’s Parsha. 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 speakto the rock and it will give water. However, instead of speaking to the stone, Moshe hitthe rock twice. Water began flowing from the rock again but because Moshe and Aaron didn’t obey G-d’s commandment to speakto the rock and hit it instead, Moshe and Aaron were punished and 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.When Moshe’s mother placed him in a basket at the river’s edge, 120 years earlier, due to Pharaoh’s decree to drown all Jewish males, Miriam stood by the river to watch over her brother. Miriam made sure that Moshe was protected. Because of her dedication to Moshe at the river, she was rewarded that the water supply to the Jewish people was in her merit.
Also, Miriam had a special feeling and sensitivity for the young. While still in Egypt, under the threat of grave punishment, she devoted herself to taking care of and saving Jewish babies who were born under Pharaoh's death decree. Although Miriam was a prophetess and attained a very high spiritual level, yet she "lowered" herself and was devoted to bringing happiness and life to the "small" children. Thus, in her merit, G-d gave "water", which has the quality of descending from on high to the lowest levels.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW