VOLUME 96 NUMBER 6
June 18, 2021
Tamuz 8, 5781
PARSHAS CHUKAS
Candlelighting Time 8:12 PM

            We merited a traveling well while we were in the desert. This was on account of Miriam. However, in this week’s parsha, it seems as though the source of water was due to Moshe and Ahron as the Torah describes that they brought water to the people. Even though when Miriam died the well returned in the merit of Moshe, however, initially the Talmud tells us that Miriam was the source of their water. Therefore, this verse seems paradoxical with the Talmud.

            Kli Yakar explains that Miriam was the source of the well because of her exceptional quality of kindness. When the nation was in Egypt and there were thousands of children to be fed and cared for, she, together with her mother, supplied them with their physical needs. She also fussed over them as well, cuddling and cooing them, helping their mothers in those difficult times. When the necessity of water was present, Miriam’s presence in the nation was a tremendous boost enabling the people to possess water for their needs.

            Although Moshe and Ahron were incredibly attentive to the essentials that the people needed to have, still their devotion was not on the same level of intensity as that of Miriam. Therefore, the well did not come in their merit, however, once the nation already possessed the well through Miriam, upon her death it returned to provide this essential basic for the people.

            Netziv also focuses upon the acts of kindness and the appearance of the well for the nation. Our Sages point out that the leaders of each tribe etched out a small canal so that the water would come directly to them. Although this could have taken place for anyone, it only happened for the leaders because of their selfless devotion for the people.

             There are many facets to showering kindness upon others. Moshe displayed his kindness with his standfast allegiance to convey the Torah to the people in its pristine and accurate form. He enabled the nation to serve Hashem through the study of Torah and fulfillments of its mitzvos. Ahron served as the High Priest in the Mishkan, committed to do all that was required of him in the most perfect and excellent fashion. This was also an act of kindness for the people since it connected them with Hashem and created a unique bond and facilitated that Hashem would bestow His blessings upon us.

            Each and everyone of us has a special talent that can be used to help others in very many ways. Not always is it so apparent, but if we will give some thought to what we can do for others, we will craft ideas and programs that will give others a boost or the necessary assistance when they need it. Our obligation is to generate those initiatives and bring them to fruition.

A BYTE FOR SHABBOS

The Torah alludes to the importance of its study analogizing it to one who is dead. The point is that when a person has the opportunity to study, he should not allow any interference from anyone at any level to interrupt him just as though he would be dead and he would be unreachable.     
~CHOFETZ CHAIM

GOOD SHABBOS