{"id":3578,"date":"2018-06-18T14:44:11","date_gmt":"2018-06-18T14:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/batkol.info\/?p=3578"},"modified":"2018-06-18T14:44:11","modified_gmt":"2018-06-18T14:44:11","slug":"parashat-chukat-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/2018\/06\/18\/parashat-chukat-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Parashat Chukat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shabbat Table Talk<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Parashat Chukat, Erev Shabbat 22nd<\/sup> June 2018 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Week of 17th<\/sup> to 23rd<\/sup> June 2018<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Torah Portion: Numbers 19:1-22:1 \/ Haftarah: Judges 11:1-33<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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[su_button url=”https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1S0YCPsBtZcAwaslj0-UYwj_WxwaXt8Gj\/view?usp=sharing” target=”blank” style=”flat” icon=”icon: cloud-download” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Download[\/su_button]<\/p>\n

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Detail of s Synagogue floor, 5th century CE. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Source: https:\/\/artsandculture.google.com\/asset\/synagogue-floor\/VAH3Z9YbSVEvJg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018And from the wilderness a gift\u2019 (Numbers 21:18)<\/em><\/p>\n

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P<\/em><\/strong>arashah Chukat provides us with a variety of inconsistencies. For example, we have the ashes of a red heifer which are part of the cleansing process (19:9) and which, on the other hand, make a person who touches them unclean (19:10). We also have the place name \u2018Kadesh\u2019 meaning \u2018sacred\u2019, from the root qd\u0161<\/em>, (20:1) yet it is the place where Moses and Aaron are charged with not \u2018sanctifying\u2019 God (also from the root qd\u0161<\/em> 20:12). The waters that come from the rock are called \u2018Meribah\u2019, meaning \u2018strife\u2019 or \u2018contention\u2019 (20:13), because the people quarrel with God there. Yet, it is there that God shows his \u2018holiness\u2019 to them \u2013 again the root qd\u0161<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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These inconsistencies give rise to a certain bewilderment and beg such questions as: What does it mean to be \u2018clean\u2019 or \u2018holy\u2019? Where are cleanliness and holiness to be found? While endeavoring to understand the text, we might also consider the possibility that the bewilderment to which it gives rise is an appropriate inner disposition in response to this wilderness experience we read about and how it unfolds.<\/p>\n

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The complexities in the text may reflect the circumstances of a people transitioning from slavery into freedom. Transitions often don\u2019t make sense and every step seems to pave the way towards new and unknown experiences. Our bewilderment in reading the text may provide a clue to understanding the experience of traversing the wilderness found in the text itself. Equally, we also may require the qualities and skills of those crossing the wilderness in order to manage our bewilderment. How might the text empower us in our bewilderment while at the same time, ironically, allowing us to gain insights into what remains unknown within it? The following is one suggestion.<\/p>\n

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In 21:10 the Israelites \u2018set out\u2019 (ns\u2018<\/em>) and \u2018encamp\u2019 (\u1e25nh<\/em>), two activities which recur frequently throughout Numbers and which are done in obedience to God\u2019s command (see Numbers 2 & 9). Alternating between setting out and encamping seems to be a requirement for the journey. It is necessary to encamp, to pause on the journey, for the leaders to \u2018dig\u2019 and \u2018excavate\u2019 the well (21:18), metaphorically understood as Torah. Then they can \u2018set out\u2019 again \u2018from the wilderness to Mattanah\u2019 (21:18) but this phrase can also be translated \u2018from the wilderness a gift\u2019 referring to the well\/Torah. Targum Jonathan indicates that the digging goes back as far as Abraham \u2018and from the desert it was given to them for a gift\u2019 (20:18) and it goes with them, \u2018giving them drink\u2019 (20:19). It is in the wilderness that they experience this gift to take with them as they \u2018set out\u2019 and, as the Talmud says, \u2018If a person makes himself humble like this wilderness, which is open to all and upon which everyone treads, his Torah study will endure and be given to him as a gift [mattana<\/em>]. And if not, his Torah study will not endure.\u2019 (Eruvin 54a:21) In 21:19 we notice the places to which this \u2018gift\u2019 travels, to the \u2018valley\u2019 (Nahaliel) and \u2018high place\u2019 (Bamoth), as it travels with the people when they \u2018set out\u2019. Rashi notes, \u2018the Targum renders [since it was given to them, it descended with them to the streams]\u2019.) Although many questions remain unanswered in our reading of the text, it is clear that God\u2019s presence on the journey and in Torah is an on-going gift, the key underpinning ingredient that supports us in life\u2019s many unknowns.<\/p>\n

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For Reflection and Discussion<\/em><\/strong>: 1<\/strong> How have I responded to the unknowns or uncertainties I\u2019ve experienced in life? 2<\/strong> How have I related to others during transition times? 3<\/strong> Have I allowed myself to experience a \u2018gift\u2019 at the heart of transitions and times of bewilderment? If not, can I be open to doing so in the future?<\/p>\n

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Bibliography<\/em><\/strong>:<\/strong> The Five Books of Moses by Robert Alter, Etz Hayim \u2013 Torah and Commentary by David L Lieber, The Torah \u2013 A Modern Commentary by W Plaut, Rashi, Targum Jonathan in https:\/\/www.sefaria.org\/ NRSV<\/p>\n

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This week\u2019s teaching commentary was prepared by <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Fitzgerald nds, Dublin, Ireland. \u00a0Bat Kol Alum 2014 and 2015
\nEmail address: theresefitzgerald7@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

[Copyright \u00a9 2018]<\/strong><\/p>\n

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PLEASE NOTE<\/em><\/strong>: The weekly Parashah commentaries represent the research and creative thought of their authors, and are meant to stimulate deeper thinking about the meaning of the Scriptures. While they draw upon the study methods and sources employed by the Bat Kol Institute, the views and conclusions expressed in these commentaries are solely those of their authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Bat Kol.\u00a0\u00a0 The commentaries, along with all materials published on the Bat Kol website, are copyrighted by the writers, and are made available for personal and group study, and local church purposes. Permission needed for other purposes.\u00a0 Questions, comments and feedback are always welcome.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Bat Kol Institute for Jewish Studies, Jerusalem<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

~~1983-2018~~<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cChristians Studying the Bible within its Jewish milieu, using Jewish Sources<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Website:<\/em><\/strong> www.batkol.info<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Parashat Admin: <\/em><\/strong>gill@batkol.info<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Shabbat Table Talk Parashat Chukat, Erev Shabbat 22nd June 2018 Week of 17th to 23rd June 2018 Torah Portion: Numbers 19:1-22:1 \/ Haftarah: Judges 11:1-33   [su_button url=”https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1S0YCPsBtZcAwaslj0-UYwj_WxwaXt8Gj\/view?usp=sharing” target=”blank” style=”flat” icon=”icon: cloud-download” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Download[\/su_button]   \u2018And from the wilderness a gift\u2019 (Numbers 21:18)   Parashah Chukat provides us with a variety of inconsistencies. For example, we…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":3582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3578"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3578"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3578\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}