Weekly Message 07.04.2025 Parashat Chukat

jccwestpasco
Jul 3
4 min read

Parashat Chukat (Statute) 19:1 - 22:1

HafTorah Judges I 1:1 - 33

Dear friends,

I hope you are having a happy and safe 4th of July week as we celebrate our nation's 249th anniversary!

Chris and I have returned from a wonderful two-week reunion with my college friends and family in Delaware. Thanks to the "magic" of Zoom, we were able to staty connected and continue to participate in our synagogue's Shabbat services throughout. Nevertheless, it will be great to be back "in person"!

This Shabbat, we continue our journey through the Book of Bamidbar with the portion of Chukat. We have already read and studied the first part of the Sedrah dealing with the sacrifice of the red heifer on Shabbat Parah as we prepared for the festival of Passover. However, this Shabbat we will read the 3rd trienniel portion which begins immediately after Moses "strikes the rock" which leads to Hashem's declaration that he himself along with his siblings Aaron and Miriam will not be among those privileged to enter the Promised Land. This of course, was a huge blow to Moses considering all that he had done up to that point to ensure the survival of his people. The continuous bickering, rebelliousness, and lake of confidence in those who left Egypt finally left a permanent stain upon their leader.

This week, we read Chapter 20:22-22:1 in which Aaron is commanded to place the mantle of his priesthood onto his son Eleazer at Mount Hor and then die there. Even though the Isrealites continue their journey and were victorious in battle, the vicious slandering and "kvetching" continues proving that only those who "didn't know slavery" would be worthy of entering the land. Incredibly, even with the knowledge that he too is doomed to eventually die in the wilderness, Moses continues to lead his people and set a noble example for us all even to this day. How many times are we disappointed in how others have behaved in a way that undoes all that we have accomplished for them and ourselves and are tempted to simply walk away from them? Moses would have been perfectly justified in doing just that—-walking away from all those who have embittered his own life and caused him to die in the wilderness with him, leaving them to cope on their own. However, he continues to lead them knowing that the young will eventually overcome the situation and enter the Promised Land. No wonder Moses was the leading example for Martin Luither King who saw the Promised Land from the distance and continued his noble leadership role knowing that he would not get there himself. We all have goals in our lives for us and for those who come after us and we all have disappointments. However, we must follow the example of Moses and not allow disappointments to destroy our hopes and dreams.

To quote from a D'var Torah from Cantor Jamie Marx of Temple Shalom in Broomall, PA, he sums this up with:

"Moses doesn't wallow, deflect, or rationalize. He continues to do his job. Given hardly a moment to catch his breath, he sends a messenger to the Edomites asking for safe passage through their territory on the way to the Promised Land. He passes Aaron's vestments on to Eleazar, Aaron's son, ensuring the continuity of the priesthood and helping his brother prepare for death. Moses could walk away - perhaps he wanted to - but he didn't. Another choice, another day, life goes on.

This is freedom: the understanding that the only thing we have control over is our response to the world around us. Life will frequently be unfair, unkind, and unreasonable. We will be tested, pushed, startled, shocked, and turned upside down. Resist the urge to blame others, to futilely attempt to control the world around you. You have no control over anyone but yourself. Instead, be like Moses: find freedom in letting go."

Once again, we are seeking volunteers to join us at Metropolitan Ministries on Thursday, July 10th from 11 am to 2 pm to help alleviate hunger and homlessness in our community and replace them with HOPE. Please consider donating a few hours for this cause by signing up at this link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK and you will be guaranteed to feel good as a result!

INDOOR PICNIC

And please, get your reservation in immediately for our community Shabbat dinner on Friday, July 11th! It will be great to share a meal and good company with our fellow congregants and friends.