5779 — Chukat: The Fatal Sin of Moses and Aaron

Introduction

In this week’s Parsha, we encounter a fascinating but cryptic story – the waters of Meriva. This story seems to be a re-telling of another story that appears in Exodus, Chapter 17. Unfortunately, it has a tragic ending – G-d decrees that Moses and Aaron will not lead the  children of Israel into the Land of Israel; in other words, Moses and Aaron will die in the desert. But what was their sin and  is the punishment commensurate with the crime? As we examine the multiplicity of responses, to these questions, that have been offered by commentaries, spanning two millennia, we will see how this story becomes an illuminating mirror for the “70 faces” of the Torah.

This podcast episode is sponsored by Avrom Jacobs (Alum of Ramah Darom ’18) in memory of his beloved wife, Dr. Laura Jacobs z”l.

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Credits
Rabbi Meir Schweiger – Faculty Host
Larry Kluger – Creative Consultant
Arlene Harel – Production Coordinator
Adam Titcher – Executive Producer

Meir Schweiger

Rabbi Meir Schweiger taught at Pardes for more than four decades before retiring in 2020. Originally from the Bronx, New York, he made aliyah in 1972. He studied at Yeshiva University, Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and Yeshivat Har Etzion, received rabbinic ordination in Jerusalem, and later earned an M.Ed. in Teaching Bible from Herzog College.

At Pardes, Meir taught a wide range of subjects including Chumash, Talmud, Halakha and Siddur. He served as Mashgiach Ruhani, guiding the school’s spiritual life through coordinating and supervising tefillot, tiyulim, shabbatonim, and pre-holiday yemei iyun. For more than 10 years, Meir was also the Director of the Pardes Fellows’ Program for returning 2nd year students and the Educational Director of the Pardes Learning Seminar.