Chukat is the thirty-ninth reading from the Torah. The word chukat (חוקת) means “statute.” The name is derived from the second verse of the reading: “This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded” (Numbers 19:2). Chukat presents the mysterious laws of the red-heifer ceremony for purification after contact with human death.

This reading also contains the story of Moses striking the rock, the stories of the deaths of Aaron and Miriam and the wars with the Amorites. The portion concludes with the children of Israel encamping on the edge of the Promised Land.

Korah (korach, קורח) was the name of a prominent Levite. It comes from the first verse of this week’s reading, which says, “Now Korach the son of Izhar… took action” (Numbers 16:1).

This week’s Torah reading tells the story of how Korach led an unsuccessful rebellion against Moses and Aaron. After thwarting the insurrection, God confirms Aaron in the priesthood and provides additional legislation regarding priestly and Levitical privileges and responsibilities.

Can you see how current events are lining up with the story in The Torah?

Each Parashat is like a piece to the puzzle. One of my Kabbalah teachers once said that the spiritual work is like putting together a puzzle. It is only when you have all the pieces does it “light up.”

Remember, we are in the 4th step of our 5 phase process. Also, at the same time, remember, everything arises with its’ polar opposite. The more of this then the more of that. This awareness combined with the concept of Anicca are the two main components of our consiounseness if we wish to progress along the path at an accelerated rate.

This week’s reading from the Torah is called Shelach (שלח), an imperative verb that means “send out.” The portion is named from the first few words of the second verse: “Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan” (Numbers 13:2).

The reading tells the tragic story of how the spies returned with a bad report about the Land of Promise and influenced the congregation of Israel to rebel against the LORD. Thus God consigned the generation of Moses to wander in the wilderness for forty years.

The third reading from the book of Numbers and the thirty-sixth reading from the Torah is called Beha’alotcha (בהעלותך); “When you ascend.”

It comes from the first verse of the portion………….”When you ascend the lamps” (Numbers 8:2), a reference to the fact that the priest had to step up to clean and light the lamps of the menorah.

This portion is jam-packed, telling the story of the consecration of the Levites, the first Passover in the wilderness, the silver trumpets, the cloud of glory, the departure from Sinai, the grumbling in the wilderness, the first Sanhedrin and the punishment of Miriam.