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Parshat Chukat July 13, 2019 10 Tammuz, 5779
Rabbi Sacks on Parshat Chukat
TORAH
ARTSCROLL 838 It is a scene that still has of contending with them and stone me!” God told him to
HERTZ 652 the power to shock and with God. But as builders of a go to a rock at Horeb, take
disturb. The people
new society, they needed a his staff, and hit the rock.
HAFTORAH complain. There is no leader who would not do the Moses did so, and water
ARTSCROLL 1187 water. It is an old work for them but who would came out. There was
drama, tension, but nothing
complaint and a
instead inspire them to do it
HERTZ 664 predictable one. That is for themselves. like the emotional distress
what happens in a evident in this week’s
Times desert. Moses should The face of Moses was like the parsha of Chukat. Surely
have been able to handle sun, the face of Joshua was Moses, by now almost forty
it with ease. He has been like the moon (Bava Batra years older, with a
Mincha 7:00 pm through far tougher 75a). The difference is that generation of experience
challenges in his time. sunlight is so strong it leaves behind him, should have
Candle Lighting 8:08 pm Yet suddenly at Mei no work for a candle to do, coped with this challenge
Meriva (“the waters of whereas a candle can without drama. He had been
Hashkama 8:00 am contention”), he exploded illuminate when the only other there before.
into vituperative anger: source of light is the moon.
Parsha Shiur 8:30 am “‘Listen, you rebels, shall Joshua empowered his The text gives us a clue, but
in so understated a way
generation more than a figure
we bring you water out of
Main 9:00 am this rock?’ Moses raised as strong as Moses would have that we can easily miss it.
The chapter begins thus:
his hand and struck the done. But there is another “In the first month, the
Beit Midrash 9:15 am rock twice with his question altogether about the whole Israelite community
episode we read of this week.
staff” (Num. 20:10–11). What made this trial different? arrived at the desert of Zin,
Gemara Shiur 7:00 pm In past essays I have Why did Moses momentarily and they stayed at Kadesh.
argued that Moses did
not sin. It was simply lose control? Why then? Why There Miriam died and was
Mincha 8:00 pm there? He had faced just this buried. Now there was no
that he was the right
leader for the generation challenge before. The Torah water for the
Shabbat Ends 9:16 pm mentions two previous community…” (Num. 20:1–
that left Egypt but not
the right leader for their episodes. One took place at 2). Many commentators see
Sun. July 14 7:30/8:30 am children who would cross Mara, almost immediately after the connection between this
the Jordan and engage in the division of the Red Sea. and what follows in terms of
Mon. & Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am conquering a land and The people found water but it the sudden loss of water
Tues., Wed. & Fri. 6:45/7:45 am building a society. The was bitter. Moses prayed to after the death of Miriam.
Tradition tells of a
God, God told him how to
Mincha 8:05 pm fact that he was not sweeten the water, and the miraculous well that
permitted to lead the episode passed. The second accompanied the Israelites
Latest Times for next generation was not episode occurred at Rephidim during Miriam’s lifetime in
Shema/Shemoneh Esrei a failure but an (Ex. 17:1–7). This time there her merit. When she died,
inevitability. As a group
of slaves facing freedom, was no water at all. Moses the water ceased. There is,
July 13 9:17/10:31 am a new relationship with rebuked the people: “Why are though, another way of
God, and a difficult you quarrelling with me? Are reading the connection.
July 20 9:20/10:34 am journey, both physically you trying to test God?” He Moses lost control because
and spiritually, the then turned to God and said, his sister Miriam had just
Next Shabbat “What am I to do with this died. He was in mourning
Children of Israel needed
Balak a strong leader capable people? Before long they will for his eldest sibling. It is

Mincha 7:00 pm Kiddush
is provided by
Candle Lighting 8:04 pm
Great Neck Synagogue