The first verse in Parshas Chukas (BaMidbar 19:2) introduces the Mitzvah of Parah Adumah (the red heifer) whose ashes are used to purify one who has become impure. This Mitzvah is puzzling because even though the Parah Adumah’s ashes make the one that is impure, pure; it makes the one who is preparing the ashes to be used in the purification process, impure. The Torah tells us that this Mitzvah is a “Chok” which is a commandment of the Torah that we must observe whether we understand it or not.
The Torah introduces the Mitzvah of the Parah Adumah with the words, “Zos Chukas HaTorah” – this is the Chok of the Torah. There is a debate between the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh and the Akeidas Yitzchok as to what these words are referring to. The Ohr HaChaim believes that the Torah only means to call this particular Mitzvah of Para Adumah a Chok. The Akeidas Yitzchok believes that the Torah means to say that Mitzvahs in general should be viewed as a Chok. Accordingly, we should therefore observe them regardless of whether we understand the reasons for them.
The author of the Yemin Yaakov who was a student of Rav Chaim Visoker ZT”L of the famed Mir Yeshiva in Poland, expounds on the view of the Akeidas Yitzchok. His approach is that if we overdo searching for the reasons of the Mitzvahs, then we could possibly end up rationalizing away the Mitzvah when we think that the reason that we found for the Mitzvah no longer applies to us. Therefore, we should treat all the Mitzvahs as a Chok – not to unduly concern ourselves with finding a rationale for the Mitzvahs and observe them whether we understand them or not.
This would have particular application to the Mitzvah of “Midvar Sheker Tirchak” – distance yourself from any matter of falsehood. We may say that the rationale for this Mitzvah is because telling a lie can be damaging and harmful. Using that rationale, we may be inclined to believe that the Torah would permit one to tell harmless "white lies". We may think that telling a story with a lie or a bit of an exaggeration here and there is harmless. However, white lies are still not permitted. Harmless as they may be, telling white lies can make it easier to lie in general and could make lying habitual. Therefore, to observe “Midvar Sheker Tirchak” properly, treat it as a Chok, observe it without delving into the potential reasons for the Mitzvah.
