Jewish Things & Thoughts in Harrison NY For the Week of June 22nd – June 28th Sivan 24th to Sivan 30th parasha Chukat

For the Week of June 22nd  – June 28th    Sivan 24th to Sivan 30th parasha Chukat

We would like people to be aware of some of the Jewish things and thoughts taking place in Harrison NY.

Here is a Jewish thought.

This week we read the Tora portion (“parasha”) known as “Chukat” (Numbers 19:1-22:1)).  There are several valuable lessons we can learn from this week’s parasha. 

In this week’s parasha we read how the Children of Israel (“Beni Ysroel”) ran out of water after Moshe’s sister Miriam died.  The people cried to G-d (“HaShem”) who told Moshe how to make a rock give water.  By making a rock give water the people would be reminded that HaShem was the creator ruler of the world and nothing was impossible for Him.  HaShem told Moshe to talk to the rock and in response the rock would give forth water.  Moshe however was angry at the people for even thinking that HaShem might not take care of them and might fail to give them water.  In his anger Moshe forgot HaShem’s instructions and hit the rock.  When only a trickle of water came out he hit it again.  But, as a result of not doing exactly what HaShem instructed Moshe was punished and not allowed to enter the land of Israel.

From this event we can learn a number of lessons. 1) Everyone, even Moshe, makes mistakes.  2) When we get angry we make mistakes.  3) Even if we have an explanation for being angry it is no excuse and we will have to pay a price for our anger.  4) HaShem will always take care of us.  Even though Moshe failed to follow HaShem’s instructions, HaShem still gave us water.  5) HaShem told Moshe to talk to the rock.  HaShem did NOT tell Moshe to hit it.  This shows it is generally better to try to reason with people than to use force.

May we all take these and the many other lessons found in the parasha to heart and apply them in our daily lives.

The Young Israel of Harrison, New York (YIOH) is a Modern Orthodox synagogue offering an intimate religious and communal experience.  Sabbath morning services begin at 9 am, mincha/maariv services on Friday and Saturday vary with sundown, and services on Sunday morning are held at 8 am.  For those who would like more information or would like to spend Shabbos in the area, visit the Young Israel of Harrison’s website at www.yioh.org or email Yiohnews@aol.com

Rabbi Bienenfeld gives weekly Talmud and Chumash classes at 7:00 pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings, respectively.  Please check the calendar posted on YIOH.org to confirm the schedule.

© W. Fraenkel 2014