Chukat

• Chukat presents the law of the red heifer and records the death of Miriam, the sin of Moses and Aaron through the striking of the rock, the conflict with the people of Edom, the death of Aaron, the fiery serpent that enabled Hashem to heal the people, the song in the Book of the Wars of Hashem and the conquest of the Amorite kingdoms.

BRIT MILAH

Whilst most ceremonial mitzvot require a berachah before they are performed, the mitzvah of brit milah is unusual in that two berachot are recited - "who has commanded us about the mitzvah of circumcision" and "who has commanded us to bring our son into the covenant of Abraham." One of the explanations for this is that the first berachah is on the actual circumcision, whereas the second is on the mitzvah of raising a Jewish child according to the requirements of the Torah.

The Sefardi custom is in accordance with the view of the Rambam, that the child’s father also recites the berachah of Shehecheyanu since this is a mitzvah that he rarely performs, and this is also the practice in the Ashkenazi communities in Israel. But in all other Ashkenazi communities the practice is in accordance with the view of Tosafot, that since the joy of the brit is somewhat lessened by the pain that the baby experiences it is not appropriate to say this berachah.

Ideally a minyan should be in attendance when a brit takes place and all present should stand during the ceremony (with the obvious exception of the sandek who holds the baby on his lap). It is also proper to mark the occasion with a celebratory meal - according to Midrashic sources Abraham made a seudah after circumcising Isaac.

If the ceremony takes place in Shul immediately following the shacharit service the men should not remove their tefillin until afterwards, since both mitzvot are testimony to the special covenant that exists between the Almighty and the Jewish people.

SIDRA INSIGHTS
by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Finchley Synagogue
WE ARE THE DISCIPLES OF AARON & MIRIAM

In today's Sidra, we are informed of the deaths of two key figures of the people, Aaron and Miriam.

The reaction of the people to the passing of Aaron was overwhelming: 'and the entire House of Israel wept for him' (Bemidbar 20:29). Later on, when Moses died, we are told merely: 'and the Children of Israel wept for him' (Devarim 30:8).

The Sifra explains why Aaron was mourned more than Moses. Aaron was greatly loved because he never said harshly to any man or woman 'You have sinned'.

With regard to Moses, part of his duty was to do just that. (Sifra, Shemini 1) Avot D'Rabbi Natan explains further: What is the verse 'He turned many back from transgression' (Malachi 2:6) referring to? This was Aaron, for when he was walking on his way and he came across a person doing something wrong, he went out of his way to greet him. The next day when the transgressor was tempted to sin yet again, he thought to himself: 'Aaron cares about me. Woe unto me if I let him down, for, if I sin, how could I ever look him in the eye again? (Avot D’Rabbi Natan 12:3)

Aaron's most outstanding character trait was indeed love for and tolerance towards one and all. This inspired Hillel to teach: 'Be of the disciples of Aaron; love peace and pursue it, love all people and bring them close to Torah' (Avot 1:12). Hillel sees genuine consideration and affection as a prerequisite for bringing others closer to a life of dedication to Torah principles and values.

With the passing of Miriam, as well, the people were filled with a profound sense of loss. The Midrash explains that this arose from their deep gratitude towards her. When Pharaoh issued his evil decree to destroy all sons born of Israelite parents, Amram and Jochebed decided to separate.

They felt it would be irresponsible for them to bring another child into the world when there was a possibility that he could perish. Miriam, who was only a young girl at the time, pleaded with her parents to reunite: 'While there is, indeed, a possibility for tragedy, with the help of G-d we will surely be able to overcome it.'

Miriam was in effect telling her parents that it was worthwhile for them to take a calculated risk for the sake of guaranteeing Jewish continuity. Her parents heeded her call and the result of their reunion was the birth of Moses.

While Aaron serves as our timeless role model encouraging tolerance and compassion, from his sister Miriam, we derive inspiration, not only for the building of Jewish families but also for the building of Jewish communities. If not for the taking of calculated risks, no Synagogues would be built, no schools would be established, and no projects of value would ever get off the ground.

RABBI MEIR SIMCHA HAKOHEN OF DVINSK
by Rabbi Dr Michael Harris, Hampstead Synagogue

Rabbi Meir Simcha was born in 1843 and died in 1926. He is renowned for two works: Or Sameach - a brilliant commentary on the Rambam’s great code of Jewish Law, Mishneh Torah - and Meshech Chochmah, his commentary on Chumash.

In his Torah commentary Rabbi Meir Simcha offers profound and original interpretations of both Biblical verses and Talmudic passages. Meshech Chochmah remains a very popular and oft-cited work.

With the publication of his Or Sameach, Rabbi Meir Simcha earned a reputation as an outstanding Tamudist. His novellae to several Talmudic tractates, together with some responsa, were published posthumously in 1967.

Rabbi Meir Simcha served as Rabbi of Dvinsk for forty years, winning esteem and affection not only in Dvinsk but far beyond. In 1906 he refused the offer of a Rabbinical position in Jerusalem because of the pleas of his congregants in Dvinsk, who wrote to Jerusalem that were he to leave, "not only would we be destroyed but also the entire Diaspora, for he is the authority able to answer anyone who asks concerning the word of G-d".

During the First World War, most of the Dvinsk community fled, fearing for their safety. Rabbi Meir Simcha remained, declaring that as long as there were nine Jews in the town, he would complete the minyan.

A TO Z OF ISRAEL’S STREET NAMES
by Simon Goulden, Agency for Jewish Education

I - Bar Ilan

Meir Bar Ilan, originally Berlin, was born in 1880. He was the scion of a great Rabbinic family, his father being the 'Netziv', the head of the famed Volozhin Yeshiva in the 19th century.

Bar Ilan joined the Zionist movement at an early age and became the secretary of the Mizrachi World Executive and editor of its weekly newspaper "Ha Ivri". In 1914, as the storm clouds gathered over Europe, he went to New York, where he soon became President of the Mizrachi movement in the USA, a position he held for many years.

By 1926, he had decided to take the momentous step of emigrating to Palestine, settling in Jerusalem. In 1937 he founded the Tel Aviv daily newspaper "Hatzofeh" as an organ of Mizrachi thought as well as "Ha Poel ha Mizrachi". From 1947 onwards, he initiated and edited the Talmudic Encyclopaedia and he wrote an autobiography which was entitled, unsurprisingly "From Volozhin to Jerusalem".

He died in 1949, but his name lives on in many streets and the University which bears his name.

Riddle of the Week
by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

LAST WEEK'S QUESTIONS

Which personality in last week's Sidra of Korach am I?

My father can be put in a gun and please don’t turn me off
(use Sephardi pronunciation).

nswer

On ben Pelet (Bemidbar 16:1).

EXTRA CHALLENGE

The Sidrot of Korach and Chukat are connected in a special way.

The only other sidrot to have such a connection are Haazinu and Vezot Haberacha.

What is the connection?

nswer

These are consecutive Sidrot in which the last letter of the first title is the first letter of the second.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS

What do Beshalach, Ha’-azinu and the Seventh Day of Pesach have in common?

EXTRA CHALLENGE

Explain:
From the Book of Bemidbar we learn that 5=7.

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