My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Hukkat
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel on July 4, 2008 | Tags: Chukat
Parshah Hukkat has one of the most troubling stories in the Torah. Moses loses his temper with the Israelites and strikes a rock to get water, instead of acknowledging God's intervention. As a result, God tells Moses, "Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the Israelite people, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land I have given them." (Num. 20:12). It seems a harsh punishment, especially since it is God, not Moses, who seemed to be losing His temper with the Israelites up until now. Commentators have struggled to understand why Moses's action deserved such a harsh punishment. Perhaps we should consider that this isn't really punishment at all. We're used to replacing our leaders. We can hire a rabbi or elect a president, but Moses was the only earthly leader the Israelites had known for more than forty years, from the liberation of Egypt to finally reaching the Promised Land. Who could take his place? Who would the people accept as a replacement? Would he make the transition willingly? God has, in effect, relieved Moses and the Israelites of this issue, by removing it all together. Moses has been an extraordinary leader, but no one is irreplaceable. With a not particularly credible excuse, God has set the stage for the post-Moses era.
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Daniel M. KimmelJoined: October 2, 2007 Daniel M. Kimmel is a Boston area film critic, lecturer and author. He does these weekly mini-lessons for the Mishkan Tefila Brotherhood's newsletter. You are free to use them for similar purposes. Divrei Torah (117) |
