In this week’s parasha, Chukkat, the children of Israel complained to Moses saying, “Why have you brought the congregation of HaShem to this wilderness to die there, we and our animals? And why did you bring us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place?- not a place of seed, or fig tree, or grapevine, or pomegranate tree; and there is no water to drink!”
G-d then spoke to Moses saying, “Take the staff and gather together the assembly, you and Aaron your brother, and you shall speak to the rock before their eyes and it shall give its waters. You shall bring forth for them water from the rock and give drink to the assembly and their animals.”
What follows next is one of the Torah’s most memorable scenes. Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation before the rock and Moses addressed the people angrily. “Listen now, rebels, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?” And as you know, Moses raised his arm and struck the rock with his staff twice. Abundant water came forth and the assembly and their animals drank.
G-d then informed Moses that because he did not believe in Him to sanctify Him in the eyes of the Children of Israel, Moses would not bring that congregation to the Promised Land.
Rashi comments that Moses’ sin was that he did not sanctify G-d by following his commands and that his actions took place in front of the entire assemblage of Israel. According to Rashi had Moses spoken to the rock, G-d’s name would have been sanctified because the people would have realized that a rock that neither speaks nor hears and does not need subsistence fulfilled the word of the Omnipresent. That very act of speaking to the rock and having the rock give forth water would have emphasized how much more so the people should fulfill G-d’s word.
Personally, I like an explanation about this parasha that was offered by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin of Efrat, Israel. Rabbi Riskin wrote that the rock actually symbolized the Israelite nation. They were stiff-necked and obstinate as a rock. G-d wanted Moses to speak to the rock just as He wanted Moses to use words of persuasion and love with the stubborn nation. Moses missed the point of G-d’s command, he didn’t see that the people were a frightened group in need of help, instead he saw them as a group of rebels. Moses shouted at them and refused to recognize that they had the ability to repent if they were given the proper guidance. According to Riskin, G-d refused to let Moses continue leading the people because he was a shepherd who had lost his love and proper appreciation for his flock.
The message Riskin offers is one of importance to anyone in a position of leading or educating others. True, educators might just have a job to do, but unless they also believe that their “flock” is capable of achieving at high levels, they will get nowhere with their students. Even though the expectation might be that individuals have to be accountable for their own actions, it is also important to believe that each individual, no matter how difficult their attitude or how far out their actions, has intrinsic worth. It is important for teachers not to use language that creates a negative self-image within their students. If children or adults hear that they are no good or that they are rebels, self-fulfilling prophecy might make those words actually come true. If you want children or adults to live up to their potential, they must hear encouraging and empathetic words. Perhaps that is why we love teachers who challenge us but who also believe in us.
Shabbat Shalom.
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