Day: July 12, 2016

Parshas Chukas

Bs”d

Parshas Chukas (5776)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

20:23—Rashi reveals something awesome—exploding—shocking—that there was something the mingling of Klal Yisroel with Edom while requesting to pass through, that was the cause of their losing Aharon HaKohain. The motivation for Rashi’s explaining is obviously this pasuk relating to the border of Edom is in an introduction to the next pasuk, the foretelling of the losing of Aharon.

The beloved, beloved, Aharon HaKohain, the great pillar of sholom, the peacemaker between husband and wife. The great wonder is that Rashi, in relating this, doesn’t really express or communicate what the exact nature of the negativity that took place was. Perhaps we can venture to say that the greatest and most popular of Aharon’s traits was ahavas sholom, bein adam l’chavero; the great lighthouse of the beauty of positive human relationships. His being a champion peacemaker between husband and wife was just an extention of his general ahavas sholom campaign. Klal Yisroel were students of Aharon and this ahava, beautiful relationships.

Esav, Edom, also has his way of smooth relationships and big smiles. However with all the great handshakes, back-slapping, our Chazal capture the truth of Esav—hoi shav—how false. Klal Yisroel camped near Edom were impressed with their false bain adam l’chavero, the fake smiles. The smiles from Aharon are genuine and kadosh, and brings the Shchinah, and yes, the anenei hakavod. For being impressed and attracted to the false Edom they lost the aidel smiles from kedusha, they weren’t worthy to bask in the great shalom and genuine smiles emanating from Aharon HaKohain.