Parashat Chukat

By: Rabbi Yosef Shemtov

In this week’s Parasha Aharon passes away, and Moshe Rabenu buries him. After that the Torah states that the king of Canaan heard the news and then attacked Benei Israel. Our Rabbis tell us that all the nation were surrounded by clouds to protect them for 40 years, and that this was in the merit of Aharon. Once he died those clouds were removed and the enemies, who had been afraid until now to start up with Benei Israel, started waging war against them.

Our Rabbis tell us that Aharon always sought Shalom; he made sure that everybody had peace. But once he died, arguments and fights began. Therefore, the Jews were vulnerable to be attacked by their enemies.

The lesson we learn is that as long as there is strife and Machloket amongst the Jewish people, we have what to fear from our enemies, but if there would be peace among us, we wouldn’t need to be worried about our enemies.
Shabat Shalom

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