" SHABBAT SHALOM. Today is 10 Tammuz 5778. There is maybe, Midrashically speaking, herald the coming of still time tonight to say Kiddush Levanah. Mashiach.

TORAH DIALOGUE 4. The Torah does not tell us exactly what sin Moshe and (p. 652 Hz) (p. 898 S) (p. 584 Hi) (p. 838 AS) Aharon committed. This sets up the view of the Malbim CHUKAT Numbers 19:1 (19th century Romania) who writes an interesting twist to [Compiled by Rabbi Edward Davis, Rabbi Emeritus (RED) this narrative. It was not so much that Moshe and Aharon Young of Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale] sinned as it was the sin of Bnei Yisrael. And their punishment was to be deprived of the leadership of Moshe 1. This Parshah leads off with the law of the , a and Aharon. The Malbim is influenced by the text wherein law that helped define what “chok” is in Jewish law, a law the Torah states that Hashem does not say “you shall enter that defies understanding. Actually many laws can be the Promised Land,” but rather said, “You shall not bring categorized as a “chok,” like , Sha’atnez, and the Bnei Yisrael into the Land.” The subtle change brings the like. Yet, this one is puzzling. A red cow is selected, based Malbim to draw his conclusion. Of course we can draw on its redness. It was brought to the Mount of Olives (in another conclusion, namely that Moshe and Aharon were Temple times), directly facing the Temple. There it was being punished for an earlier sin. Aharon could be punished slaughtered and burned. Its ashes would be mixed in a for his participation in the sin of the Golden Calf, and Moshe special container with spring water and sprinkled on for his role in the sin of the spies. Moshe charged the spies anyone who was ritually impure. This water had the special with the mission to see what kind of country it was, whether property of purifying those who were impure and rendering the people in it were weak or strong, few or many, the ritually impure those who were pure, those who quality of the people, and if the cities were open or fortified. administered this ritual. The secret of the Red Heifer was All of which were the recipe for doom – not what Hashem revealed to Moshe alone! Even King Solomon, the wisest said (Me’am Lo’ez). of the wise, could not discover the secret of this ritual. He said in Kohelet (7:23) “I said, I will be wise, but if was far 5. The outside world had no idea that Hashem had from me.” The numerical value of Vehi Rechakah is 441, prohibited Bnei Yisrael from waging war against Edom. the same value of Adumah (Red Heifer)! Hence the decision to back down from the gathered forces of Edom was seen as being out of fear and cowardice 2. A non-Jew once challenged Rabbi Yochanan ben (Targum Yonatan). This caused Hashem’s name to be Zakkai, saying that the law of the Red Heifer makes no profaned in the world. Another reason for Aharon’s death sense. How could sprinkling ashes in water make someone to occur now. It is worthy to note that the mountain for pure after he became impure through contact with a dead Aharon’s death was Mt. Hor, literally a “mountain upon a body? Asked Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai: Has your body mountain” – like a small apple on top of a large apple. In even been invaded by a foul spirit? No, said the non-Jew. the Midrash it states the Cloud that led Bnei Yisrael in the But have you ever seen anyone who was so affected? Yes, desert leveled all obstruction in their way, including all hills I have. Reb Yochanan: What medical treatment did he and mountains – except for three. One was Mt. Sinai, receive? The non-Jew: An aromatic root was placed under where the Torah was given; another was Mt. Hor where the man, and when water was sprinkled upon him, the foul Aharon was buried. The third mountain was Mt. Nebo, spirit fled. Exclaimed Reb Yochanan: Then let your ears where Moshe was buried. For these reasons, each heed what your mouth speaks. This explanation found mountain remains standing. [RED’s note: But we do not favor in the eyes of the non-Jew and he went on his way. know the exact location of these three mountains. This was Reb Yochanan’s disciples then said: That pagan you done so that we would not come to venerate these fended off with a straw. But what explanation would you mountains.] give us? Reb Yochanan replied: The Torah speaks here of a divine law, a law which has a great secret. Therefore do HAFTORAH not try to fathom it; it is a decree from Hashem that you are (p. 664 Hz) (p. 911 S) (p. 989 Hi) (p. 1187 AS) JUDGES 11:1-33 not permitted to question.

3. Altogether, there have been nine Red Heifers to date. Yiphtach, the leader of his generation, provides The first one was that of Moshe; the second was burned by commentary on our sidrah when he argues with Ammon Ezra the Scribe; two by Shimon HaTzaddik; two by the from the historical perspective. Firstly, B'nei Yisrael never Gadol Yochanan; one by Eliyahu the Prophet; one took anything from Ammon or Moab in their travels under by Chanamel the Egyptian; and the ninth by Yishmael son Moshe. The Israelites circumvented Ammon and Moab of Piebi. The tenth one will be burned by the Mashiach when traveling to Israel. Secondly, whatever they did take (Tzeror HaMor). Twenty years ago we heard of a Red was captured from Sichon who attacked B'nei Yisrael. Heifer near Kfar Chassidim (south of Haifa). My wife and I Those captured lands were ruled by and were in the total went with Mrs. Himelstein and Rabbi Tanami to view this possession of Sichon. Thirdly, God orchestrated the entire red cow. It looked like the real thing. Several months later scene. The whole world ultimately belongs to God, and He it was disqualified because it developed several black hairs. may give it to whomever He pleases. Fourthly, the In a 2015 edition of the Post, there appeared Israelites have retained these lands for centuries and have an article about a Red Heifer Farm being developed in the never relinquished their claim to them. (Malbim) Negev region of Israel under the direction of Rabbi Chayim Richmond of the Temple Institute in the of Sponsored by the Arnison and Hirshorn families in Jerusalem. There they have produced Red Angus male honor of the birth and brit milah of Micah Nadav Arnison cattle. If a female is produced, neon signs will go off and

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QUESTIONS FOR PARSHAT CHUKAT 5778 by Rabbi Edward Davis, Rabbi Emeritus

From the Text 1. What gets burned up along with the Red Heifer? (19:6) 2. Who must undergo the Red Heifer ceremony to become pure? (19:14-16) 3. When Miriam died, what did the people lack? (20:2) 4. Where did Aharon die? (20:25) 5. What city was Sichon’s capital in the Amorite lands? (21:26) From Rashi

6. How many black hairs would disqualify an otherwise completely Red Heifer? (19:2) 7. Who performs the ritual of the Red Heifer? (19:3) 8. What happens to the ashes of the Red Heifer? (19:9) 9. Why would Moshe fear Og when he did not fear Sichon? (21:34) 10. Who killed Og the king of Bashan? (21:35) From the Rabbis 11. Why did Moshe strike the rock when Hashem said to speak to it? (Be’er Mayim Chaim) 12. How was Aharon’s death exalted and to be admired? 13. How was Moshe’s spy mission against Yazeir different from the earlier spy mission? From the Haftorah : Judges 14. Whose son was Yiftach and what tribe did he come from? Relationships a) Aharon – Nachshon b) Moshe - Elazar (2 answers) c) Chushim – Sered d) Yocheved – Merari e) Rachel - Ephraim ------

ANSWERS FOR PARSHAT CHUKAT 5778

1. Cedar wood, hyssop, and a crimson thread. 2. A person who became impure by being in contact with a dead body. 3. Water. 4. Mt. Hor. 5. Cheshbon. 6. Two. 7. The deputy Kohen Gadol (at this time, Elazar, Aharon’s son). [The Sages differ regarding whether this is done in the future by the Kohen Gadol or not.] 8. The ashes are divided into 3 parts. One part was stored on Mt. Olives for future use. The second part was divided among the 24 divisions of Kohanim for use to purify people. The third part was stored away in the Chayil, an area next to the wall of the courtyard. 9. Og was the refugee from the War Between the Four and Five Kings and went to inform Avraham that Lot was captured. 10. Moshe. 11. Moshe reasoned why did Hashem tell him to take his staff with him. 12. He died via a kiss of God. The Talmud described it as pulling hair from milk. The soul left the body without any resistance. 13. Moshe sent two spies quietly and they were responsible only to Moshe. 14. Yiftach ben Gil’ad of the tribe of Menasheh.

Relationships: a) Brothers-in-law b) Uncle Moshe and Brothers-in-law c) First Cousins (Chushim son of Dan, Sered son of Zevulun) d) Sister and Brother e) Grandmother Rachel