Chukas
Rabbi Jablinowitz
This week’s parsha begins with the words Zos Chukas HaTorah as an introduction to the laws of the Parah Adumah. The commentators point out that it should say Zos Chukas HaParah, these are the laws of the Parah Adumah, since the word “Chok” means a law. The answer brought in the Sefarim is that the opening words are meant to teach us something beyond the specifics of Parah Aduamh and teach an important idea about Torah in general.
The Sfas Emes brings in the name of the Chidushei HaRim that we are to understand the word “Chok” in the words Zos Chukas HaTorah in the sense of “Chakikah” which means an engraving. The words of Torah Shebe’alpeh must be engraved in the body of every person. The Sfas Emes explains this to mean that every action a person takes should be with the Torah perspective and with the intention of finding the holiness of the Torah found in the physical world. After all, Chazal teach that Hashem looked into the Torah and created the world. Therefore, the Torah is contained throughout the physical world, but in a hidden manner. And through all of our actions we are meant to unleash the source of Torah found in the world. This is the meaning of Chukas HaTorah.
Rav Tzadok gives a specific illustration of this notion of Chakikah, of engraving the Torah into all of our actions. When Bnei Yisrael complained about the bitter water in Marah, we read (Shmos, Chapter 15, Pasuk 25) Sham Sam Lo Chok U’Mishpat V’Sham Nisahu. Hashem gave certain mitzvoth for Bnei Yisrael to be involved in. The Mechilta on the pasuk says that the word Chok is a reference to Shabbos. What is the connection between Chok, a mitzvah which is hard to understand the reason for it, and the mitzvah of Shabbos, which commemorates the creation of the world.
Rav Tzadok teaches that we need to understand the word Chok in the same vein as the pasuk in Mishlei (Chapter 30, Pasuk 8), Hatrifeine Lechem Chukee. Provide for me my portion of bread. When one understands that his food comes from Hashem, the physical and base act of eating is raised up and becomes holy. And this happens when the Torah is engraved in my heart and encompasses all my activities in life, hence the term Lechem Chukee. Even eating becomes a Chok, an act which is guided by the Torah engraved in my body.
The Gemara in Brachos 53B darshens the pasuk (Vayikra, Chapter 20, Pasuk 7), V’Hiskadashtem V’Hiyisem Kedoshim, Ki Ani Hashem Elokeichem to be referring to washing before eating, washing before benching, and saying Birkas HaMazon itself. What does all this have to do with holiness? The answer is the same. When one eats and carries out all the laws necessary for the entire process of eating, he is being holy.
This, explains Rav Tzadok, is what the Mechilta means when it says the Chok taught to Bnei Yisrael at Marah was Shabbos. This is because on Shabbos all one’s eating is with holiness, is done B’Kedushah. Shabbos is a Chok in the sense that the base and physical act of eating which was the source of the sin of Adam HaRishon and then led to further sins (kinah and ta’avah), becomes an opportunity to do the reverse. On Shabbos we eat with awareness that all comes from Hashem and try to find the holiness in everything even in the most physical of acts.
This is what the Chidushei HaRim means when he says Zos Chukas HaTorah means we need to engrave the Torah in our bodies. All of our activities must be carried out with an eye towards finding and seeing the holiness in the world. And this happens when the Torah is engraved in our bodies and governs all of our actions, including the basest acts like eating and drinking.
