Parshios Behar & Bechukosai
Undeniable Rule
The completion of the book of Vayikra, which we mark this week by the
reading of the parshiot of B’Har and B’Chukotai, allows me to look in
review at this most important book. The book of Vayikra, perhaps more than
any other book of the Torah, deals with details and seeming
technicalities. The word b’chukotai itself implies that its laws and
commandments are not necessarily given to rational human interpretation
and understanding. Just as there are laws of nature and medicine that
function, exist and can be proven empirically to be true, and yet are
completely baffling and inexplicable to us on a rational basis, so too, in
the parallel spiritual world, there are immutable laws and technicalities
in the Torah that defy our logic but are nevertheless the basis for the
existence and functioning of that holy world. And the book of Vayikra
allows us to glimpse that world and its operational laws and commandments.
The importance of the Temple worship service and its attendant
requirements of animal sacrifices, the special role and duties of the
priests – kohanim – and of the kohain gadol – the High Priest – are major
occupants of the book of Vayikra. Included are also the laws regarding the
diseases of tzaraat – plagues that affect humans and their clothing and
houses. The parsha of Kdoshim contains the most commandments of any given
parsha in the Torah. And this week’s Torah reading teaches us regarding
the sabbatical years and the control of real estate transactions in the
Land of Israel by Torah law. Most of the book of Vayikra is details and
technicalities and is difficult to comprehend and explain.
Yet, we all know that in life as in agreements, the devil is in the
details. Great and noble ideas, lofty hopes and ambitions, all run afoul
of the details of implementation. The Oral Law, given to Israel
simultaneously with the written Torah, contains all of the necessary
details to translate the great ideas and morality of the Torah into the
everyday life of Jews. The book of Vayikra purposely concludes with
B’Chukotai for it is the chukim – the parts of the Torah that are most
difficult for us to understand and explain – that contain the details that
allow the great spiritual world of the Torah to operate. It is no wonder
therefore that the Torah warns us in this week’s parsha that ignoring or
violating the chukim will inevitably bring disaster and sadness in its
wake.
All of Jewish history testifies to this undeniable rule of Jewish life,
mysterious as it may seem to some Jews. This therefore is what makes
Vayikra such an important book to study and comprehend. For it is only
through the details, in the mysteries and rituals that are detailed in
this book, that the great picture of Torah and its goals and values can
emerge. In the natural and everyday world we are accustomed to accept laws
and practices that are not completely understandable to us since they
obviously work. In the spiritual world of Judaism, we are also bidden to
behave in a like manner for these laws and details that we are unable to
fully understand are nevertheless the basis for Jewish survival and
accomplishment.
Shabat shalom.
Rabbi Berel Wein
Rabbi Berel Wein- Jewish historian, author and international lecturer offers a complete selection of CDs, audio tapes, video tapes, DVDs, and books on Jewish history at www.rabbiwein.com
Text Copyright © 2006 by Rabbi Berel Wein and Torah.org
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