[Avodah] Chukas "Knowing That You Don't Know Is A Great Equalizer"

[Cantor Wolberg]

Chukas begins: "Zos chukas haTorah".  [19:2]  It refers to the law of  
the Para Aduma.  As we know, a chok refers to a Torah law whose reason
is not revealed to man. Chazal teach that the parah adumah is  
connected with the Children of Israel's atonement for the egel  
hazahav. Yet, according to the gemara, the mitzvah
of parah adumah was given to b'nei Yisroel before the sin of the  
golden calf occurred.  (Ein mukdam um'uchar baTorah).

One question is asked why the Torah says "These are the decrees of the  
Torah?"  ALL the mitzvot are decrees of the Torah. The answer given is  
that the entire Torah
must be viewed as chukim (beyond our human comprehension).

And what I find quite interesting is that as this parsha deals with  
chukim (laws that have no human logic), this is the same portion where  
two of the most important characters in the
Torah, Miriam and Aaron, die. In other words, as a chok makes little  
or no sense to us, so also death, makes little or no sense either.

We must accept the decrees, as well as death, with equanimity and faith.

ri
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