Parshat Chukas 5780
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha the incident at Mei Merivah. After the death of Miriam, Bnei Yisrael complained they didn’t have water to drink. Hashem told Moshe to gather the entire nation together and speak to the rock and bring forth water. The pasuk which records the command states (Chapter 20, Pasuk 8), V’Dibartem el Ha’Sela Le’Einehem; speak to the rock before their very eyes. And when Moshe hits the rock instead and Hashem punishes him and Aharon, the pasuk says (Chapter 20, Pasuk 12), Ya’an Lo He’emantem Bi Le’Hakdisheini L’Einei Bnei Yisrael. You didn’t believe in Me to sanctify Me before the eyes of Bnei Yisrael. Why is it that, both in the command and later in the aftermath, the notion of producing the water from the rock specifically before the “eyes of Bnei Yisrael” is stressed?
The Sfas Emes in relating to this point invokes a Medrash Rabbah in parshat Vayera (53, 14). When Hagar despairs from saving her son Yishmael, the pasuk says (Bereishis, Chapter 21, Pasuk 19), Vayifkach Elokim es Eineha, Vate’re Be’er Mayim. Hashem opened up her eyes and she saw a well of water. The Medrash states, Amar Rabbi Binaymin, Hakol Be’Chezkas Sumin Ad She’Hakadosh Baruch Hu Me’ir es Eineihem. Everyone is blind until Hashem opens their eyes. The Chidushei HaRim teaches that this means that everything we need is always in front of us; we just need to open our eyes and be aware of all that we have before us.
The Sfas Emes stresses that at Mei Merivah Hashem wanted to stress a similar point. He wanted to open up the eyes of Bnei Yisrael. He wanted them to see and realize an important concept; the idea of unity. Firstly, Bnei Yisrael needed to realize the unity of Creation; everything in the world has a purpose and it all stems from Hashem. The Mishnah in Avos (Chapter 5, Mishnah 5) tells us that ten things were created Erev Shabbos Bein Ha’Shmashos, and one of them was Pi Ha’Be’er; the mouth of the rock which enabled water to flow forth from it (see Rashi’s commentary on the Mishnah). Everything was set in motion for this moment from the time of creation. If Bnei Yisrael were only to open their eyes, they would realize and sense the unity of creation, and as the Chidushei HaRim teaches by Hagar, everything we need is always before us; we just need to open our eyes.
The second point of unity is the unity of Bnei Yisrael. Rashi teaches on the word Vayakhilu (Chapter 20, Pasuk 10), Zeh Echad Min Ha’Mekomos She’Hechzik Mu’at es Ha’Merubah. We learn from the word Vayakhilu, that Moshe gathered all of Bnei Yisrael together in one place. The chance to teach Bnei Yisrael a significant point about Hashem’s world and their role in the world was all set to take place. And when this opportunity was missed, the Torah describes it as being a lost possibility of opening their eyes.
And what caused this lesson of unity to be squandered? The Torah describes this episode as Mei Merivah. The quarrelling and complaining and arguing over the lack of water ruined this opportunity at unity. In order for us to draw close to Hashem and get a better understanding of His world, there needs to be unity and peace among Bnei Yisrael. They need to function as a Clal. As Chazal teach by Matan Torah, K’Ish Echad, B’Lev Echad. There needed to be harmony among Bnei Yisrael in order to receive the Torah.
When this unity is foiled, a distance is created between Hashem and His people. We become like Hagar at the well. We don’t see the tremendous chesed that Hashem does for all of us. And this was Hashem’s claim to Moshe and Aharon. Ya’an Lo He’emantem Bi Le’Hakdisheini L’Einei Bnei Yisrael; you could have opened their eyes. You could have caused them to see how everything in the world is interconnected. And it’s all there so that we can properly function in order to serve Hashem as the Creator of the world.
Good Shabbos
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