Parashat Chukat: Our True Source of Life

By Rebbetzin Chavi Golovenshitz

In loving memory of my husband, Rav Shlomo ben Reb Yitzchak zt”l

Good Erev Shabbos, dear friends.

It’s late, but I couldn’t let this week pass without sharing a few words of Torah and chizuk. I almost didn’t write this. But then I thought—how can I not? In times like these, we need to hold on even tighter to our source of life—Hashem.

This week in Eretz Yisrael, they’re reading Parashat Chukat-Balak, while here in chutz la’Aretz, we are reading Parashat Chukat. I’ve titled this message:

“Our True Source of Life”

And as we explore these parshiyot, you’ll see why.

What Does It Mean to Truly Rely on Hashem?

We all know that Hashem gives us life, but how deeply do we internalize that truth? How often do we pause and realize that every breath, every moment, is only because He wills it?

Parashat Chukat begins with the mysterious mitzvah of the Parah Adumah—the Red Heifer. This law makes no logical sense: it purifies the impure, yet makes the pure person impure. Why would Hashem give us a mitzvah we can’t understand?

The Torah doesn’t call it chukat haParah—“the law of the red heifer.” It says:

“זֹאת חֻקַּת הַתּוֹרָה”“This is the law of the Torah.”

This teaches us something profound: the foundation of Torah living is emunah, not human logic. Sometimes Hashem’s ways defy our understanding—and that’s exactly where we grow.

Hashem Purifies Even the Impure

The Torah says Hashem is “metaher teme’im”—He purifies those who are impure. Not just physically, but spiritually.

I read a story about a young Jewish man who had strayed far—he was even planning to intermarry. Someone convinced him to meet the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and when he did, the Rebbe looked at him and said:

“I admire you.”

The young man was stunned. “After everything I’ve done? You admire me?”

And the Rebbe answered:

“Because Hashem gave you a hard test. And you have the power to choose—to rise above, to change, to fulfill your purpose.”

Eventually, that man returned fully to Torah. That’s the power of metaher teme’im—Hashem never gives up on us. He’s always waiting to lift us up.

Letting Go of Control: Atonement for the Golden Calf

Why is Parah Adumah considered an atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf?

Because the calf represented our need to understand, to control, to do things our way. The Parah Adumah teaches us the opposite: to surrender to Hashem, to follow even when we don’t understand.

Sometimes life throws us into situations we can’t explain: illness, loss, disappointment. And the Yetzer Hara whispers, “This makes no sense! Where is Hashem?”

But the Torah says: “Zot chukat haTorah”—this is the law, even if it’s beyond us. And that, in itself, is the deepest connection to Hashem.

One Person Can Uplift an Entire Nation

There’s a beautiful halachah: when using the waters of the Parah Adumah for purification, one pure person can purify many others.

And where is this taught? In the Torah of Yavneh—the very city that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai asked to save during the destruction of the Second Beit HaMikdash. One man. One act. He asked not for Jerusalem, but for Yavneh and its sages. And through that, he preserved the future of our people.

“Tahor echad, metaher harbeh.”One pure soul can uplift countless others.

Never underestimate your impact. A kind word. A sincere tefillah. A small act of chesed. You might not see the ripple effects—but they’re real. And they’re holy.

Gratitude, Trust, and the Water That Flows

Later in the parsha, we read of Miriam’s passing. Right after her death, the people complain about the lack of water.

Rashi tells us that the miraculous well that followed Bnei Yisrael for 38 years was in Miriam’s merit. But when she passed, the nation failed to eulogize her properly. And the water dried up.

Think about that. After all the years of kindness, they forgot to show gratitude.

And then came the sin of Mei Merivah—Moshe struck the rock instead of speaking to it. Hashem had wanted the people to see that it’s not Moshe’s staff, not a stick, not a miracle worker.

It’s Hashem who brings water. Hashem who gives life.

Bitachon Brings Protection

Later, the people complain again—this time about the manna. And Hashem sends snakes. But the snakes had always been there. Why did they only strike now?

Because the people lost their gratitude, their bitachon. When we trust in Hashem, we’re protected. When we complain, we open ourselves to harm.

Moshe is then commanded to place a copper snake on a pole. And whoever looked at it was healed—not by the snake, but by turning their eyes and hearts upward to Hashem.

Final Thoughts: Never Let Go of Emunah

Dear sisters, this week’s parsha calls to us.We may face pain, confusion, or unanswered questions. But through it all, we must remember:

Hashem is our source of life.Hashem purifies. Hashem sustains. Hashem strengthens.

And most of all:

One person can change everything.

So don’t give up. Your tefillah matters. Your actions matter. Your faith is powerful.

“Tahor echad, metaher harbeh.”One pure person can uplift many.

Shabbat Shalom,May we all be strengthened with renewed faith, healing waters, and endless gratitude.