Rabbi Adina Lewittes: Chukat The Perfection of Imperfection

Rabbi Lewittes addresses the well-known conundrum of this ritual that doesn’t seem rational. She cites the Tosafot which describes the mitzvah of the Red Heifer as something to be experienced rather than explained. She also comments that the ritual burning of the animal destroys any notion of perfection.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z’l: Chukat Losing Miriam

Rabbi Sacks questions what made this trial different for Moses. Why did he lose control at this time and place? He suggests that Moses lost control because he was mourning for his loss of Miriam – his sister as well as a mother figure.