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Parshat Chukat: Numbers 19:1-22:1;
Judges 11:1-11:33.

Experience Makes a Difference.

n this week's action-packed por-
time ever encountering a dead body. I
tion, Chukat, we learn about the
began to understand why the body has
ritual of the Red Heifer (moo!)
often been referred to as a vessel for
and the rules associated with purifying the soul.
oneself after coming into contact with
All too often, we feel invincible.
a dead body.
We ride bicycles without helmets,
Also, Miriam dies, and Moses and
drive cars without seatbelts, drink to
Aaron learn that they won't be per-
the point of stupidity and fail to take
mitted to enter the Promised Land
simple, yet lifesaving, precautions.
because Moses strikes rather
We take risks, some-
than speaks to a rock that
times calculated, but in the
moment, often only think
then produces water for the
people.
about how our decisions
In addition, Aaron dies,
impact us, rather than how
the people mourn his death
our decisions impact those
(but not Miriam's), snakes
around us. You may be
attack (not on a plane), a
willing to take the risk of
—
couple of battles are fought
riding a bicycle without a
with enemies, and there are
helmet — but are you will-
a couple of intense poems.
ing to take that risk if you
Rabbi Daniel
The prevalent theme in
also factor in the impact
S. Ho rwitz
the portion is death and its
that a closed head injury or
accompanying rituals.
premature death would have
on your family and friends?
We have all attended a funeral at
some point in our lives. But how often
This Shabbat, reflect on the pre-
do we think about what has gone on
ciousness of life.
behind the scenes to ritually prepare a
Recognize your own mortality,
embrace the accompanying humility,
Jewish body for burial? Perhaps with a
little more clarity and knowledge, we
and strive to make your time count.
would have the ability to re-evaluate as
Know that once you are gone, others
a community the honor we accord our
here will take care of your body and
deceased and internalize the sanctity
mourn for you, and that giving them
with which we are taught to treat the
the chance to do so is part of their
human body.
development as human beings.
In return, while you are here, com-
Our tradition shares that to prepare
a body for burial is a mitzvah — par-
mit to caring for the bodies of others,
ticularly because you know when com- taking reasonable precautions to pre-
pleting the task that the individual is
serve your own health and safety, and
incapable of somehow "repaying" you
to understand that your actions rarely,
in this world for your actions.
if ever, impact only you.
Recently, I had the experience of
Daniel S. Horwitz is the rabbi and director
preparing a body for Jewish ritual
of immersive learning for Moishe House
burial as a member of a chevra kad-
disha (Jewish burial society — literally International and is the rabbinic adviser
for Michigan State University Hillel.
"holy society"). Four of us cleaned the
body of the deceased elderly gentle-
man, ritually purified it, dressed it
in white linens, and laid it in a plain
Conversations
wooden casket, wrapped in a prayer
• What actions can I take to bet-
shawl (tallit), as is tradition.
Dirt from Israel was sprinkled inside
ter recognize the fragility of life?
• Who were those who selflessly
the casket, and pottery shards were
prepared my own loved ones for
placed over the eyes and mouth of
burial, and what were their moti-
the deceased (our tradition speaks of
vations?
humans as having come from the dust
• How can I give back to oth-
of the Earth and as being molded from
ers, without the expectation of
clay).
thanks, while I am here?
Needless to say, this was a different
kind of experience. This was my first

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June 13 • 2013

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