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Naso

One ladle weighing ten shekels full of incense: the one ladle
chukat ת ַּ קֻח represents the totality of Torah given by the one God. The weight
of ten represents the Ten Commandments, the Torah’s fundamental
teachings. The Hebrew word for “incense” has the numerical value
of 613, the number of commandments in the Torah, when one of its
Hebrew letters – a kuf – is interchanged with a dalet, in accord with
£Laws That Transcend Laws That Transcend Laws That Transcend the little known Kabbalistic technique, atbash.
££
Human Reason
Human Reason One bull: this alludes to Abraham who slaughtered a bull to feed
Human Reason
the three angels who visited him (one of them came to announce
Isaac’s impending birth).

The root of the Hebrew word “chukat,” the name of this portion, is One ram: this alludes to the ram that Abraham sacrificed in place
chok, a law that seems to ignore or defy human reason. In fact, as the of Isaac, his son.
Rabbis note, the opening phrase, “This is the decree (chok) of the One sheep: this alludes to Laban’s flock of sheep which Jacob
Torah” (Numbers 19:2), implies that the laws of the red heifer and ingeniously bred so that their offspring would become his own under
the enigmatic and paradoxical ritual through which its ashes purify 15 an agreement he had made with Laban.
one from the impurity of death are the quintessential examples of all
the commandments that go beyond normative reason. Paradoxically, One goat: to atone for the brothers’ sale of Joseph. The brothers
the laws pertaining to this ritual render impure those who are pure dipped his special cloak into goat blood in order to trick Jacob into
and purify those who are impure, as those who prepare the ashes of thinking that Joseph had been devoured by a wild beast.
the red heifer and the other components needed for purifying the Two cattle for peace offerings: these correspond to Moses and
impure become impure in the process. How does the same set of Aaron who made peace between God and Israel.
elements purify and defile simultaneously? According to tradition, Five rams, five male goats, and five sheep: these three sets of
even Solomon, the wisest of men, was unable to resolve this paradox. animals correspond to the nation of Israel, which is divided into three
Another surprising element in this mitzvah was that it was actually divisions, cohanim, levi’im and yisraelim (the remainder of the people
performed outside the Tabernacle or Temple. who are neither cohanim nor levi’im). The three sets also correspond
Some commentators have reasoned that since a chok by definition to the three divisions of the Tanach – Torah, Prophets, and Writings.
defies human reason, there is no need to delve into its rational. Human The number five corresponds to the five books of Moses and the five
beings must simply “listen and obey.” Other commentators felt that commandments that were written on each of the two tablets which
although the true and ultimate reasons for a chok may evade our Moses received on Mount Sinai.
comprehension, many lessons and insights can and should be gleaned Rashi’s commentary reveals that in offering these gifts the
from what we can understand. Thus, it is well worth our efforts to princes’ intent was to reflect the spirit of the day, which was that
probe such matters more deeply. of rectification and revelation. The dedication of the Tabernacle

This mitzvah can be approached from many angles, each one represented the culmination of the Jews repentance for the Golden
yielding valuable insights. In this section, we will focus on only one Calf, God’s acceptance of their heartfelt remorse and His granting
of these: the lesson this ritual’s paradoxical nature can teach us about them atonement. In addition, the dedication represented the

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