OUTREACH

Chukas

This Torah portion, containing many extraordinary experiences in the Jewish People’s final sojourn to the Holy Land, is primarily centered around its name “CHUKAS”/supra-rational statute. “THIS IS THE STATUTE OF THE TORAH” begins the text and addresses the law of the red heifer, dealing with spiritual purity and impurity. The wisest of all men, King Solomon, stated that though he was able to understand most statutory laws that have no fundamental rational basis, yet this law escaped his capacity for understanding.

It is interesting that this statute relates to the red heifer, yet is called the “statute of the Torah” giving it a more encompassing tenor.

Why give us a law that we cannot understand when it is so much more pleasant to observe concepts that you can understand? When something fits in the logic of the mind, it can be so much more internalized with meaning and feeling.

Why give this particular statute that transcends all rationality (with only Moses being privy to the secret of its reason) the unique distinction of being called THE STATUE OF THE TORAH?

This teaches us a vital lesson in our relationship to our spirituality and Jewishness. When one limits their behavior to that which fits into their limited perspective and understanding, it is generally motivated by self, usually driven by some emotion and very subjective. Another driving force is the simple animal material physical factors that are the motor of physical continuity in existence, which is pleasure, power, ego, self-gratification etc.  The soul, which is the vital eternal part of the human, is generally silenced as it does not have the necessary factors that would necessitate a soul response.

When our commitment on a spiritual level transcends our human limitations and we accept a Higher Authority for no apparent reason, when it makes absolutely no sense, is not logical and in fact can be construed as irrational, then we have submitted to and connected with the Creator’s purpose. That relationship requires and indicates complete humility and acceptance of a Higher Authority on the most fundamental levels of behavior in this physical space.

Touching the core beyond the rational, it is the conduit for energizing and giving nutrition to our souls. Literally, we wake up our souls with that awareness and allow it to illuminate our inner being and, through our bodies, our environment.

It is why the Rebbe emphasized Jewish actions that did not make so much logical sense to many people, like wrapping Tefillin or putting a Mezuzah on the door or lighting Shabbos candles etc.  The holy act awakened the inner being, touching and oft times igniting the Jewish Core.

It’s time to get it done. It works, as the laboratory of history has already proven and the latest Pew reports confirm.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a great week.

Rabbi Sholom D. Lipskar

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