From Korach to Chukas
The juxtaposition of the two parshiyos illuminates exactly where Korach erred. Parshas Chukas (19:1)opens with a description of the ultimate chok -- parah aduma. But the Torah doesn't introduce it as zos chukath hatuma vetahaar- this is the law of impurity and purity. The text introduces it in the most general terms possible: זֹ֚את חֻקַּ֣ת הַתּוֹרָ֔ה: this is the law of the Torah.
Even though only a select few mitzvos like para aduma and kilayim are classified as chukim and other mitzvos are classified as mishpatim, really, ultimately, they all stem from the decree that is not subject to logical reasoning, no matter how reasonable they may appear.
When Korach attempted to usurp the authority of Moshe Rabbeiu, he did so by using logical arguments. He declared that it doesn't make sense to require a mezuzah on the doorpost of a room that is filled with holy books or to require that single threat of techeleth for tzitzis on a garment that is completely techeleth-dyed. He denied the authority of mitzvos that did not fit his logical paradigm.
I was thinking about how Korach's name indicates his mindset.קֹ֖רַח Some commentaries point to the letters straight as an allusion to his having caused baldness in Yisrael. But I was thinking about the letters in different order. For example, רַקֹ֖ח is the root of the word used for ketores, and the offering that his followers made for this resulted in their death.
What's interesting, though, is that the letters of his name also could form the root of חקֹ֖רַ, which contains the word חקֹ֖ but with the addition of the resh refers to reckoning. What Korach did was attempt to reckon who should be in charge and what the limits of halacha should be. But he failed to recognize the truth that we reassert several times each day when saying the prayer composed from Tehillim 144: וְ֜לִגְדֻלָּת֗וֹ אֵ֣ין חֵֽקֶר His greatness cannot be searched/reckoned.
The chok without the resh reminds of the limits of our own powers of chakira and the need to acknowledge that we can't demand everything conform to our own sense of logic.
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Even though only a select few mitzvos like para aduma and kilayim are classified as chukim and other mitzvos are classified as mishpatim, really, ultimately, they all stem from the decree that is not subject to logical reasoning, no matter how reasonable they may appear.
When Korach attempted to usurp the authority of Moshe Rabbeiu, he did so by using logical arguments. He declared that it doesn't make sense to require a mezuzah on the doorpost of a room that is filled with holy books or to require that single threat of techeleth for tzitzis on a garment that is completely techeleth-dyed. He denied the authority of mitzvos that did not fit his logical paradigm.
I was thinking about how Korach's name indicates his mindset.קֹ֖רַח Some commentaries point to the letters straight as an allusion to his having caused baldness in Yisrael. But I was thinking about the letters in different order. For example, רַקֹ֖ח is the root of the word used for ketores, and the offering that his followers made for this resulted in their death.
What's interesting, though, is that the letters of his name also could form the root of חקֹ֖רַ, which contains the word חקֹ֖ but with the addition of the resh refers to reckoning. What Korach did was attempt to reckon who should be in charge and what the limits of halacha should be. But he failed to recognize the truth that we reassert several times each day when saying the prayer composed from Tehillim 144: וְ֜לִגְדֻלָּת֗וֹ אֵ֣ין חֵֽקֶר His greatness cannot be searched/reckoned.
The chok without the resh reminds of the limits of our own powers of chakira and the need to acknowledge that we can't demand everything conform to our own sense of logic.
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