Parshas Chukas is known mostly for the
halachos of the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer, which was used to remove the
status of Tumas Meis from an individual. It is also a transitional
parsha for the Bnei Yisrael as two of their major leaders, Miriam and Aharon, Moshe’s
siblings, passed away in this parsha. Since the slavery in Mitzrayim, Miriam
and Aharon had always been there for the nation; Miriam as a midwife, saving
Jewish babies from death, Aharon acting as peacekeeper between spouses and
extended family as well. Their passing left a huge hole in the nation.
When discussing Miriam’s death, Rashi quotes
a gemarah in Moed Katan (28a) that asks, what is the significance of writing
the death of Miriam directly after the laws of the Parah Adumah? The Gemarah
answers just like the Parah atones for the tumah of Bnei Yisrael, so does the
death of tzaddikim atone for the nation. The Kli Yakar says that there are four
instances where the medrash connects the death of a tzaddik to the topic written
next to it in the Torah. They are: the death of Nadav and Avihu and the
halachos of Yom Kippur, the death of Miriam and Parah Adumah, the death of Aharon
in this week’s parsha and the clothing of the Kohen Gadol, and the death of
Aharon (rehashed in Sefer Devarim) and the breaking of the Luchos. The Kli
Yakar goes on to explain that these four topics represent what a tzaddik does
for us in this world, which explains why they are written next to each other.
There is a gemarah in Brachos (17b) that
says the sustenance for the entire world is provided in the merit of tzaddikim.
There is also a medrash by Parah Adumah which explains that the reason why a
Parah is used to remove tumas meis is because since the Bnei Yisrael sinned
with a calf (by the Golden Calf), it is only right that the mother of the calf should
come and clean up their mess! This is obviously a metaphor, but it shows a
connection between Parah Adumah and Miriam. We are taught that the well in the
desert was provided only in the merit of Miriam; together with the fact that as
a righteous person, she also helped provide food for Bnei Yisrael, she is the
mother of the nation, providing them with everything they needed to survive.
Perhaps the most important function of a
tzaddik is to show us the proper path to avodas Hashem and how to do the
mitzvos. Losing that is an actual loss of Torah, similar to the breaking of the
Luchos. Additionally, the merit of a tzaddik acts as a shield, protecting and
masking the nation from all harm; similarly, clothing protects and masks the
body. In fact, we are taught that the protective cloud surrounding the camp
came in the merit of Aharon, and immediately after his passing, Bnei Yisrael
were attacked as that protection was gone. This is the connection between the
death of a tzaddik and the clothing of the Kohen Gadol, which also had the
function of acting as atonement for the nation in certain cases.
Lastly,
since his removal from this world affects the wellbeing, safety, and educational
and spiritual growth of the nation, a tzaddik’s death itself is an atonement!
Even with nothing else attached to it! Similarly, the day of Yom Kippur is an
opportunity for us to seek atonement without us having to do anything
beforehand. Regardless of the circumstances, Yom Kippur will come and provide
us with an opportunity to makes things right.
While Aharon and Miriam were two of the
greatest people who ever lived, the same merit they provided for us in their
time exists for us nowadays with our tzaddikim. Hopefully we can understand and
take advantage of the great people we have with us, and fully appreciate what they
provide us with.
Shabbat Shalom!
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