Hegyon HaLev for Shabbat of Parsha Chukkat
In this week’s Torah Portion (Parsha Chukkat) we read of a Plague of Snakes sent to punish the members of the community who were complaining against G-d and Moses our Teacher.
In the Kifaya chapter on “Bitachon/Reliance”,
Rabbenu Abraham ben HaRambam makes the
following commentary on this passage, relating it to the subtleties of Divine Providence. (translation
derived from Rosenblatt Vol 2 page 161).
Rabbenu Abraham writes:
“Our scriptures have already testified how the Israelites were bitten by vipers and how their repentance was brought about when
they repented from their sin and began to trust G-d (exalted be He) again. Describing this, the scriptures say
‘And the people came
to Moses and said to him: We have
sinned because we have spoken against Hashem and against you’.
And it is
said, with reference to their faith and trust in G-d (exalted be He) ‘Pray
to Hashem that He may take away the
serpents from us’. Now G-d
(exalted be He) did not [actually] remove the
serpents from them, but instead
He acted according to the usual manner
of His miracles and signs [as
follows]: He allowed the serpents to continue biting them, but their bites were no longer
fatal. By this He taught them that their
sufferings were caused by the removal of Divine Providence because of their lack of trust and reliance on Him.”
oooOooo
My Brief Hegyon Ha Lev
When “snakes” bite us they are
sometimes ‘sent’ to correct or chide us.
Sometimes their purpose is
to test our equanimity under duress.
Sometimes their purpose is
to strengthen us in our own resilience.
Rabbenu Abraham then reminds us that the ensuing installation of a copper serpent had no magical power to cure or absolve the Israelites.....it merely provided a focus for uplifting their thoughts when they “looked upwards, dedicating their hearts to their Father in Heaven”, for “if they did this,they would be healed. If they did not, they would perish.”
oooOooo
These days in Northern Israel when we look upwards to the heavens we frequently see plagues of fiery snakes with tails of smoke.
We might also see them variously
as trials,or warnings, or tests of strength. Maybe even as acts sent to admonish our lack of united trust in each
other as well as in Providence.
We have to look beyond those
metal serpents and remember that G-d is Master of Wars.....that He is the
Lord of the Heavens... and His
Providence is often hidden and subtle.
Personally, I would also add that He dwells in our midst as
well as in the Heavens—and that it is perhaps more crucial, in these
times—that we look “inside” ourselves rather than “up” and outside ourselves if we are to find both His Healing and His
Love.
Shabbat Shalom!
Nachman Davies
Safed July 11 2024