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The Torah portion is Hukkat; in this third triennial year, we will read Num 20:22 - 22:1
The torah reading begins with the death of Aaron atop Hor ha-Har, after a ceremony transferring the priestly role from Aaron to his son Elazar. When Aaron dies, the entire community mourns 30 days. This is the origin of our shloshim (meaning "30" days) period of mourning for relatives other than one's parents (including great leaders and teachers).
The reading continues with the Israelites whooping the enemies who attacked them at a place called "Hormah" (= "wipeout") and a story about the Israelites dying from burning snake bites. As an antidote, God instructs Moses to fashion a bronze (or copper) snake and set it atop a pole. When the people look at it, their wounds would heal (rabbinic spoiler alert: they were looking up *past* the 'idol' towards heaven, the true source of the cure - even though the statue in later generations becomes the subject of idolatrous worship).
Following are some very short and obscure references to battles the Israelites fought and won that are listed in a different book, "the Book of the Wars of the Lord," subsequent to which the Israelites arrive at the edge of the precipice.
Finally, we read of a skirmish between the Israelites and their enemies' kings, Sichon and Og, who will reappear soon.
Amazingly realistic, these stories of the struggles of desert life include poetry, sculpture, warcraft, eulogizing, ritual: in other words, the vicissitudes of living a challenging life in the harsh desert brings art and craft, even poetry and song, to the people who must struggle through it somehow.
Maybe those of us who are struggling in these difficult times can take heart from the examples of long-ago and learn to sing, as well. Then the struggles may have a beneficial or ennobling effect on others, even though for us they might just seem to be difficult. WE owe it to ourselves to at least try.
Shabbat shalom |
