Weekly Parsha

Refuah Sheimah: "May it be Your will, LORD my G-d, and the G-d of my forefathers, that You quickly send refuah sh'lemah (complete healing) from heaven, spiritual healing and physical healing to Aryeh ben Leah, Esther bat Simcha, Stuart Holtzclaw and Randy Shute from Syracuse, NY. And Sheila bat Sara Imanu who is in prenatal care and waiting to have a baby.

Continue praying for: Teddy Welz, Miriam (Mariana) "bat Zulay", Adina (Heidi) "bat Sarah" e Yosefa (Josie) "bat Sharon", Rafael ben Gladis e Esther Bracha "bat Sarah".

Chukat

Numbers 19:1 - 22:1

"Chukat" (חֻקַּת) is a Hebrew word meaning "statute," "decree," or "ordinance." It's the name of the 39th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of reading, found in the Book of Numbers. The name is derived from the second verse of the reading, which discusses the "statute of the law" commanded by the Lord. 

The term "chukat" signifies a law or commandment that is considered eternal and unchanging, like something engraved in stone. 

The red heifer ritual, in particular, is often cited as an example of a "chok" – a commandment that may seem illogical or difficult to understand rationally, but is to be followed because it is G-d's command. 

The word "chok" (חֹק) is the singular form of "chukot," and it also carries the meaning of a statute or decree, often one that is beyond human understanding. 

The Parashat Chukat (weekly Torah reading portion) is known for its focus on the laws surrounding the red heifer, a mysterious ritual used for purification after contact with death.  The portion also includes the story of Moses striking the rock for water and God's decree that neither Moses nor Aaron will enter the Promised Land due to this action. 

The Torah states regarding Moshe's hitting the rock instead of speaking to it (as he was commanded to do by the Almighty):

"And the Almighty said to Moshe and Aharon, because you did not believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Children of Israel, therefore, you will not bring this congregation to the Land which I gave them." (Numbers 20:12)

If Moshe were to have spoken to the rock (instead of hitting it) and it would have given forth water, there would have been a greater sanctification of the Almighty in the eyes of the congregation. The people would say, "If this rock which does not speak and does not hear fulfills the word of the Almighty, all the more so should we."

We see from here that the essence of sanctifying the Almighty's name is not merely that someone should be impressed by another person's righteous behavior or to think that a person is acting in an elevated manner. Rather, the key factor is that other people should be influenced to improve their own behavior. Whenever you behave in a manner that influences others to follow the Almighty's will, you sanctify His name.

Most people would rather be hurt by flattery than helped by criticism. You'll never stand out if your goal in life is to fit in. We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves. You can't take it with you ...but you can send it ahead!

Shabbat Shalom!

R. Ovadiah Tank

Online Learning

Rabbi Tank is a professor at the American Jewish College, where he teaches classes on Talmud, Jewish History, and Contemporary Jewish Law. Rabbi Tank is dedicated to finding modern utility and meaning in ancient wisdom texts and is pleased to provide spiritual, cultural, social and educational programming to communities around the world. 

Rabbi Tank was educated at Yeshivas in New York and Miami. He studied Biblical Archeology at Bar Ilan University and Jewish Studies at Harvard University. Rabbi Tank has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and he is also graduated in International Economic Development from the University of Oxford. 

Rabbi Tank is actively involved in peace negotiations and relief operations. Rabbi Tank is the director of international affairs at the World Jewish Confederation headquarters in New York and He is member of the White House National Religious Leaders , an Executive Office of the President of the United States in Washington, D.C.