Perashat Hukkat 5778

Perashat Hukkat 5778

This week's perasha deals with the quintessential Hok, a law of the Torah that is beyond human understanding, of Parah Adumah. There is an age-old discussion among Torah scholars regarding the search for the rationale behind G-d's commandments. One school of thought advocates that we are obligated to understand the reasoning behind the missvot, while another school holds that there is not always a logical explanation for each missva and that it is more incumbent on us to focus on keeping the missvot through faith alone. 

Those who seek to find the reasons behind the missvot hold that when one has a clear understanding of a missva it becomes more than just a task; it fills his consciousness, expanding his world of thought. The power of the missva is intensified and becomes more ingrained within his being. Studying the rationale behind the missva may also inspire a more precise analysis of halakha. Furthermore, understanding the meaning of the missvot illustrates the beautiful light of Judaism to the outside world.

Other Hakhamim oppose delving too much into the reasoning of missvot because of their own strong faithful conviction. They hold that a person who always tries to understand the justification behind the missvot is deviating from the true essence of the missva. When a person probes deeply into the reasons for the missvot, there is grave concern that he will observe the missvot only because he identifies with them and feels at ease performing them. It is questionable if such a person is serving G-d. There is also the chance that one would reach a mistaken conclusion through one's limited view which might be diametrically opposed to Hashem's intent. When we remove ourselves and our narrow perception from the equation, we allow for the brilliance of G-d to enter and fill us in His unique way. 

Rabbi Saadia Gaon presented a third view which combined both positions. He noted that there are two classes of missvot:  shim'iyot, those received through revelation and sikhliyot, those that are required by reason. He wrote that we must take diverse paths and have a rich experience of missvot. We must absolutely keep the first class of commandments even when we do not understand the reasoning behind them or when they might oppose our philosophy and self-made values. However, we should still try to strongly understand those missvot of the latter class to the best of our abilities in a way that relates to our inner world.

By constantly searching for different ways to connect to the various commandments, sometimes with reasoning, and at other times specifically removing our egos and relying on emunah, faith, we show our complete devotion to Hashem's missvot.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Mimoun Miller