Throughout Moshe Rabbeinu’s life and career he encountered and experienced many challenges and difficulties. For the most part, Moshe was always able to work the Jewish people’s way through the circumstances and ensure the fewest people would be punished, and the ultimate goal of reaching Eretz Yisrael would be accomplished. Yet, in this week’s parsha, Parshat Chukat, Moshe meets his own end as he receives the punishment from Hashem that he, himself, will not be able to enter Eretz Yisrael.

Many commentaries try to understand how Moshe was able to sin, what was the actual transgression, and why such a punishment.  The text itself provides clues but also difficulties and questions. 

In sefer Shmot, the last time Am Yisrael needed water, Moshe was told to take the staff and hit the rock. Why not this time? If Moshe was told to speak to the rock, why was he told to bring the staff as well now?  If one was to assume the mistake Moshe made was by not following the directives of Hashem by hitting the rock instead of speaking to it, why does the posuk not say that?  The posuk states, “ יען לא האמנתם בי להקדישני לעיני בני ישראל”, “For you did not believe in me to sanctify My name before the eyes of Bnei Yisrael”. The posuk focuses on the lack of kiddush Hashem and not the fact that Moshe chose to ignore the instructions of Hashem. Was there not a kiddush Hashem when water spurted out from the rock?! Why does the Torah seem to suggest that there wasn’t?  Were Bnei Yisrael told that Moshe was supposed to speak to the rock rather than hitting it?

Rav Shimshon Pincus zt”l explains that the fact the Moshe striking the rock brought forth water was certainly a kiddush Hashem, however it wasn’t the kiddush Hashem that Bnei Yisrael needed now.  We are in a post Korach’s Rebellion world, which unfortunately planted the seed of doubt in the Jewish people as to Hashem’s direct involvement in their lives. When Hashem told Moshe to speak to the rock, Hashem wanted to provide the kiddush Hashem that Am Yisrael needed, one that showed that everything comes from Him.  The moment that Moshe struck the rock, even though it was certainly a kiddush Hashem, it no longer connected directly to Hashem but rather to Moshe.  That wasn’t the message these people needed.  It was part of Moshe’s responsibility to understand what Bnei Yisrael needed at this time.

As we also live in the post Korach’s Rebellion world, maybe one of the messages we can take is to be able to see the kiddush Hashem, and yad Hashem, in every act in this world, and to not be distracted from connecting the dots directly to Him.  May we be zoche to see yad Hashem and see an end to this war, and a safe return of all of the hostages and our soldiers to their families.

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