Parashat: Chukat-Balak

Parashat: Chukat-Balak
Torah Reading: Numbers 19:1-25:9

“Then Israel sang this song: Spring up, O well. Sing to it,”

— Numbers 21:17

In the portion Chukat, Moses is memorialized for a moment in which he loses his patience — a moment where he quite literally strikes out and thus loses a lifetime’s commitment to crossing into the Promised Land. Miriam has died and the well has run dry, and so too has the people’s (and Moses’ patience). In a moment of grief, the people have community-ed against Moses and Aaron once more and in a moment of vulnerable humanity (and not strategic leadership), Moses reacted.

Perhaps this is why this song is so beautiful — a chapter before, the congregation comes together to complain — and now, Moses assembles the people once again, so that God can provide water, and Israel, in a moment reminiscent of more joyous times, sings it into existence. The people have come together with a shared cause (rather than a sorrowful grievance) and a meaningful purpose to move forward. This, indeed, becomes the start of their fight song. And as we find out soon enough, they’re going to need it.

— Rabbi Amanda K. Weiss