Page 369 - BAMIDBAR
P. 369

“Hashem spoke to Moshe and to Aharon,  bamidbar  12                                                                                                                                                             #                                                               26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Bamidbar-EYAL | 12 - A | 18-08-19 | 13:48:25 | SR:-- | Black   26347-EYAL-6BOOKS
 saying: This is the decree of the Torah, which

 Hashem has commanded, saying: Speak to the
 Children of Israel, and they shall take to you a
 completely red cow, which is without blemish,
 and upon which a yoke has not come”

 (Bamidbar 19:1-2)


                                                                                                                     Just as the mitzvah of parah adumah is a chok, above our understanding,
                                                                                                                     so too, is the mitzvah to immerse in a mikveh a chok. Still, we can try to
                                                                                                                     be seaworthy, gaining clarity in this matter.
                                                                                                                     Rabbi Yishmael Kohen Gadol merited Hashem’s request for a blessing.
                                                                                                                     This was due to his mother’s mesirut nefesh in the mitzvah of mikveh.
                                                                                                                     At the time of Creation, Hashem separated between the Upper and the
                                                                                                                     Lower waters. As compensation for the Lower waters, He granted them
                                                                                                                     the mitzvah of nisuch hamayim and mikveh.The word        (water) is
                                                                                                                     numerically equivalent to ninety. This is the sum of forty-five plus
                                                                                                                     forty-five. Hashem’s Name       , with each letter spelled out, has the
                                                                                                                     gematria of forty-five. It is also the gematria of the word  (man). By
                                                                                                                     purifying and sanctifying man, the waters have the ability to connect him
                                                                                                                     with his Creator. The letters of the word   numerically equal forty,
                                                                                                                     ten, and forty. Two times forty allude to the forty days and forty nights
                                                                                                                     which Moshe spent in Shamayim in order to receive the Torah. The
                                                                                                                     number ten alludes to the Ten Commandments. Waters, therefore, connect
                                                                                                                     a person with Torah, affecting him with kedushah and taharah.

                                                                                                                     Our Sages (Bava Kama 17a) state, “Water is Torah.” Water flows
                                                                                                                     ceaselessly. Standing waters become putrid. A person is constantly
                                                                                                                     obligated to study Torah. Words of Torah should pour forth from him. If
                                                                                                                     he remains stagnant, he will turn sour, and may become involved in illicit
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