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