23 Jun BEYOND UNDERSTANDING

Upon hearing of the loss of a family
matriarch or patriarch, or an individual who
added so much to one’s family history, ever
find yourself saying “end of an era”?
What about members of your community,
your shul? An elderly person who lived an
elevated life, leaving behind lessons to
learn. Do we not say “end of a generation”?
This week’s parsha, Chukas, tells us of three
great losses. The deaths of Miriam and
Aaron and HaShem’s decree that Moshe
will not lead the nation into Eretz Yisroel.
Each one, a tragic loss. Each one leaving a
void.
I think of the pain of the nation experiencing
one devastation after another. Feeling
leaderless. How difficult it must have been
for the people. Losing Miriam, who was a
mentor and source of hope to the women of
the nation. Losing Aaron, who in addition to
bringing kedusha to the people through his
role as Kohein Gadol, was the consummate
lover and pursuer of peace. And being
without Moshe, the only leader the nation

ever knew since their exodus from Egypt.
And, how painful it was for Moshe, to lose
Miriam, who watched over him as a baby,
and never stopped caring. To lose Aaron,
who despite being an older brother, was
forever proud and supportive of Moshe’s
many accomplishments, even accompanying
him on his missions to Pharaoh. And then,
the final blow. That Moshe himself would
not enter into the Promised Land.
The work chukas is translated as statutes.
Laws and decrees that while we may not
understand their meaning, we still accept
and fulfill, for they are G-d given. The
parsha begins with the laws of the Parah
Adumah, the Red Heifer. A chok, a statute.
It then segues to the death of Miriam, the
decree upon Moshe following his hitting the
rock, and Aaron’s death.
Perhaps the Torah places these losses
immediately after the laws of the Parah
Adumah to teach that just as we cannot fully
grasp the reasons behind a chok, we often
cannot comprehend the reasons behind loss
and death. Yet, we accept. For just as statutes
are G-d given, so too, does loss and death
come from Above.

We learn details of Aaron’s death from both
the Midrash and the Yalkut. HaShem
appears to Moshe, giving him instructions
to prepare Aaron for his death. “Kach es
Aaron… Take Aaron” (Bamidbar 20:25).
Rashi explains that Moshe was to “take”
Aaron with words of consolation. Because
Aaron was the epitome of peace, HaShem
was reluctant to inform Aaron directly of his
impending death, but asked Moshe to break
the news gently. A task so heart wrenching
that Moshe cried all night.
In the morning, Moshe went to his brother
Aaron. When asked by Aaron, why the early
morning visit, Moshe responded that all
night he was thinking about a Torah learning
that he had questions on, and wanted the
earliest opportunity to ask his brother.
Together, they opened and studied Sefer
Bereishis. They discussed the miracle of
Creation, and HaShem’s beautiful world.
They paused at the Torah’s narrative of the
sixth day, when HaShem created man.
Moshe turned to Aaron, asking what can be
said about Adam, who brought death to the
world. Aaron replied, “Moshe, my brother,
don’t speak that way about this matter.
Mustn’t we accept the decrees of
HaShem?”
Moshe continued, asking Aaron about
how many years did they have to live.
Aaron’s reply was “Not too many, maybe
a few”. With tears, Moshe said, “Much
less”. To which Aaron said, “Maybe a few
months”.
How hard it was for Moshe to tell his dear
brother that it was even less. Understanding
the weight of the moment, Aaron began to
tremble, and spoke of his fear of the
Heavenly judgment after his passing.
Moshe asked Aaron if he accepts
HaShem’s judgment. Aaron looked up to
the heavens, answering in the affirmative,
saying, “Boruch Dayan Ha’emes, Blessed
be He, Who judges with truth.” When
Moshe questioned Aaron, if he was sure,
Aaron said, “HaShem nossan, v’HaShem
lokach, HaShem gives and HaShem takes,
may His Name be Blessed.” Moments that
are the embodiment of ultimate
acceptance.
At that point, Moshe instructs Aaron to
take his son, Elazar, and together, the
three ascended to the top of the mountain.
There, they saw an open cave. They
entered, finding a lit candle on a table and
a bed. It was there that the Bigdei Kehuna,
Aaron’s Priestly Clothing, were passed on
to his son. Moshe consoles Aaron by
telling him “How fortunate are you to see

your crown passed on to your son. A
privilege that I have not been found worthy
of.”
The Midrash continues describing the
poignant scene in the moments before
Aaron’s death. Moshe tells him to lie on the
bed, to place his hands by his sides, to close
his eyes and mouth. Aaron followed all
instructions. HaShem’s presence descended
in a cloud into the cave. Aaron’s life came to
an end with neshikas Elokim, HaShem’s
kiss of death. The holy neshama that was
breathed into Aaron at birth returned to its
Maker.
Together, Moshe and his nephew, Elazar,
descended from the mountain. While it was
agonizing for the nation to see that Aaron
did not accompany them, Aaron merited to
leave this world pain-free, with a kiss of
death directly from HaShem, and the
knowledge that his son would carry on.
The Torah tells us that upon realizing that
Aaron had died, the entire nation wept for
thirty days. To know Aaron was to love him.
Not just his family, not just a group, but the
entire nation mourned him.
In Pirkei Avos, Hillel says, “Be among the
students of Aaron. Loving peace and
pursuing peace. Loving people and bringing
them closer to Torah.” (Avos 1:12) Words
taught generations and generations ago, but
so vital and relevant to this very day. To be a
student of Aaron. To be constantly growing,
developing and learning. To never stop, but
to always be working on improving one’s
character. To be a person of shalom, peace.
Do it for Aaron. Do it for yourself.
As we go through life, we all face challenges
and situations that hit us like a chok,
circumstances that we don’t comprehend or
understand. Aaron taught the ultimate
Jewish expression of acceptance. To bless
HaShem, and always accept His judgment.
To truly believe that everything in our lives,
whether we perceive it as a blessing or a
hardship, comes directly from the Creator
and is ultimately for our good. In a world
filled with questions we cannot answer,
Aaron teaches us that emuna is not
understanding every decree – it is trusting
the One Who decrees.