Parshas Chukas begins with the words זאת חוקת התורה. Reb Chaim Shmuelevitz, in his beautiful essays, develops the idea that keeping the Torah should always have the aspect of chok, meaning whether we understand a mitzvah or we don’t, we are always ready to do the will of our Creator, simply because we love Him and feel this is the right thing to do. This idea also connects to the significance of this month, Tammuz.
The Bnai Yissachar notes that the passuk with the permutation of Hashem’s name that corresponds to the month of Tammuz is וכל זה איננו שווה לי. The last letters of the last four words spell out Hashem’s name, but in reverse. The name of Hashem is reversed because the month of Tammuz represents din, judgment. This passuk is from Megilas Esther, describing our arch enemy Haman, who had everything except that one Jew named Mordechai refused to bow down to him. Because of this, Haman ended up losing everything. The Gemara in Chullin connects the sin of Adam Harishon to Haman’s name: .המן העץ. The connection is obvious. Adam Harishon also had everything except one tree whose fruit he was forbidden to eat (until Shabbos), and he lost everything because he didn’t hold back.
When we explored the depth of the sin of the spies in Parshas Shlach, we understood that the main source of the spies’ rebellion against Hashem was the lack of emunah and bitachon that everything we have ultimately is a gift from Hashem. When we appreciate everything that Hashem gives us, we are inspired to do everything that Hashem tells us to do. May we be zoche to do the will of Hashem and merit that the fast days coming up will ultimately be yomim tovim.
RABBI DANIEL COREN
SEMICHAS CHAVER SHIUR in R’ Coren’s office every Wednesday at 9:00 PM
Hachana L'Shabbos Shiur in 20 Upstairs every Wednesday at 9:45 PM
