This week’s Torah portion, Chukat, features an example of Chukim, distinct Divine decrees that are beyond human comprehension. 

“זֹ֚את חֻקַּ֣ת הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֣ר ׀ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֣וּ אֵלֶיךָ֩ פָרָ֨ה אֲדֻמָּ֜ה תְּמִימָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵֽין־בָּהּ֙ מ֔וּם אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־עָלָ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ עֹֽל”

“This is the decree of the Torah that Hashem has commanded: Instruct Bnei Yisrael to bring you a perfectly red cow, in which there is no defect and on which no load has been carried on it,” (Bamidbar 19:2). ⁽¹⁾

Like all Torah commandments, regardless of whether or not we slightly understand their rationale, ultimately we abide by them because God commands us to, knowing that He has our best interests in mind. As the verse says, 

“כָּל־מִצְוֺתֶ֥יךָ אֱמוּנָ֑ה”

“All of your commandments are faith,” (Tehillim 119:86).

The phrase, “chukim”, is the same Hebrew term referring to the set laws and phenomena of nature, which are absolute and indisputable. ⁽²⁾ The Birkei Yosef (also known as the Chida) explains that the “chukim” of the Torah help a person deal with the “chukim” of life – situations of uncertainty and apprehension that lead a person to ask themselves, “Why is this happening to me?” In the same manner that a person observes certain mitzvot that hardly make any sense but still willfully adheres to them knowing that they are for their greatest benefit, so too, sometimes in life puzzling things happen, but we must always know with complete faith that only Hashem sees the big picture and makes everything happen for the good. 

 

#EinOdMilvado 

_{(1) As translated by Onkelos, “גזרת אוריתא”}

_{(2) As in Pslams 148:6, “ויעמידם לעד לעולם חק־נתן ולא יעבור”}