By Ethan Miller

This week's parsha is Chukat. The parsha starts out with a description of the laws of the red hefer in relation to purifying someone that has been in contact with a corpse. This parsha takes place during the fortieth year of wandering in the desert. When Miriam dies, the people of Israel loose their source of water (spiritual nourishment). God instructs Moses and Aaron to speak to a rock and command it to give them water. Moses and Aaron are angry at the Israelites and impatient and strike the rock to obtain the water. But they are punished when God tells them that they will not be allowed to lead the people of Israel into the promised land.

Moses sends messengers to the kinds of Edom who rule the land between them and the land of Israel. However, the kings forbid them from passing through their land. The israelites are forced to take a roundabout path into canaan and enter from the east. When they arrive at Mount Hor, Aaron passes on the priesthood to his son and dies. The nation mourns Aaron's death for thirty days.

Moses then leads the Israelites in battle against the Amalekites. After the battle, the Israelites complain about the quality of their food - manna - and God sends snakes to the Israelite camp, killing many of them. Moses prays for the Israelites' health and safety and God instructs him how to cure those that have been bitten. Moses then leads the Israelites against King Sichon of the Emorites and Og of Bashan. They are victories in all their battles and arrive at the east bank of the Jordan river, across from Jericho and the land of Israel.

Much has been written about the incident involving Moses striking the rock. Because the text is vague and actually only describes Moses and Aaron's punishment,

there are many interpretations of what their sin was. Rashi offers the explanation that the sin was Moses and Aaron striking the rock out of impatience and frustration. Maimonades explains it was that Moses and Aaron getting mad at the Israelites, rebelling and rebuked them. Nachmanides explains that the sin was not the act of striking the rock, but rather the lack of faith that Moses and Aaron showed when they took credit for obtaining the water instead of attributing it to God.

But here's the kicker. Hasidic Master Rabbi Lev Yitzak of Barditchev wrote that both Rashi and Maimonades were in a way,correct. He explains that if a leader influences his community through harsh language and rebuke, then their relationship with their whole community will reflect that and they will have to forcefully impose their will on their environment in order to provide for the people. If however, the leader influences the community through love and helping them reach a place where they desire to improve themselves, the world will willingly lend more resources to further the leader's goals.

This interpretation can give us a lot of insight as Madrichim at machane. If we have to maintain control of our chanichim through force and anger, or interact with our tzevet in a disrespectful way, our entire environment will reflect that toxic attitutde. However, if we respect our chanichim and encourage them to want to pay attention in peulot and treat our fellow madrichim with respect and love, we will see our chanichim start behaving on their own and tzevet members more willing to help us reach our goals, making all of our lives easier and more enjoyable.