Parshas Chukas June12, 2010 Tammuz 5 5770

We all know the story of Moses hitting the rock. A brilliant career ends atop Mt. Nevo with Moses gazing across the Jordan at his unrealized dream because he hit the rock. Every reader asks ‘what did he really do that was so bad’? The problem is that even when we figure out what Moses mistake was, we still must ask why he did it.


Based on ideas found in Ramban and Hamek Davar I would like to offer the following thought.

Let’s start at the beginning. Miriam the prophetess has died. In her merit the people have been drinking water from a rock that has traveled with them throughout the forty years in the wilderness. Now Miriam is gone and so is her well. This is quite a problem. Where will the people find enough water in the desert to slake the thirst of millions? The people complain to Moshe. Moshe falls in prayer before Hashem and Hashem tells him how to get water. Moshe gets water for the people. What did the people learn from this episode? Nothing. They were dependant on Miriam now they are dependant on Moshe. Hashem says to Moses ‘you will not lead this people into the land’. Emphasis is placed on not leading the people not Moses being barred entry into the land. There is something lacking in Moses leadership. A good leader educates and prepares his followers to grow up and take responsibility. Miriam is gone, what are we to do? The answer is become Miriams. Generate merit through good deeds, piety and prayer. Whatever Moshe did wrong it was precipitated by the fact that he brought water out of the rock and the people had nothing to do with it. When Hashems salvation is brought about through another it is not as good. Note that Moshe was told to bring forth “it’s” waters those special miraculous waters that Miriam brought forth from the rock. Instead he brought forth “water”. Plain water not the special water. Is this the way it will always be? What will happen when they move into the Land? Must they always run crying to Moshe and have him fix it? Therefore Hashem says you cannot lead the people into the land. They need a different type of leader. You are the loving father of the Exodus and wilderness. The people of the land need different leadership. Of course once Moshe cannot lead the people into the land he cannot enter the land. What role would he play? The retired statesman? No Moshe is too great for any role other than leader. If he is not going to lead he is not allowed to follow.

Earlier this morning we witnessed a remarkable feat. Harold Schroeder read the Haftarah. Harold has not done that since his Bar Mitzvah over four decades ago. Harold wanted to do it and he wanted to do it right. He approached my father in law, a veteran Bar Mitzvah teacher, and toiled away until he did it. I am sure we were all impressed. Actually what you witnessed this morning was not nearly as impressive as what I witnessed last Tuesday night. At the Tuesday night Freestyle Bais Hamedrash program Harold led a group learning Chumash with Rashis commentary. Harold, who never learned in a yeshiva or even attended a day school, led the group. How did he do it? He realized that it was time to step forward so he got the books and began to learn. Harold was not alone. The room was full of people learning in pairs or teaching groups or even learning on their own. Yes some were learning with the Rabbis but others became the rabbis. The Torah is compared to water but it is trapped in a rock. The Torah is an inscrutable book that is written in a language we don’t understand and talks about things we are unfamiliar with. Yet from that rock of Torah regular folks are drawing water with determination and desire.
This is a lesson for leaders and followers alike.
Good Shabbos