From the Rabbi

As some of you may know, I am visiting my parents on the east coast over the next 10 days. I will miss everyone while away, but, please know that everything continues as usual – especially morning and evening minyan. In my absence, I ask you to please consider joining a minyan to enable those saying kaddish to be able to do so.

This Shabbat is Parashat Chukat.  As its name indicates, a major focus of the reading is a type of law known as a chok, a law presented by the Torah without any reason or explanation for its observance. We are all familiar with other, un-explained, chok laws, such as tzitzit and kashrut. The amazing thing is, these laws are often seen as the true litmus test of loyalty to the Torah and its program. The lack of a written reason does not make the law unreasonable. An unexplained law is not necessarily unexplainable. Every mitzvah has a reason, even if it’s not apparent.

Here are some thoughts by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, zt”l on this idea of the Chok and its place in Jewish tradition. Click HERE to learn more.

Shabbat shalom!

Rabbi Chaitovsky