It’s summertime, so I’ve got Joni Mitchell on my mind. Not only because she penned and performed some of my favorite summer anthems (“The Hissing of Summer Lawns,” “Chelsea Morning,” and “Woodstock,” anyone?), but also because her music contains a wealth of seemingly lighthearted lyrics that carry a profound resonance that I don’t often have time to relish during the chaos of the school year. This is not the first time I have gone to the well of Joni Mitchell to find inspiration for a Torah commentary, but given that this week’s portion, Chukat, contains the passing of Miriam and the subsequent drying up of a well, I hope that you will indulge me in one more sampling of the Joni Mitchell waters, this one from her 1969 recording of “Both Sides Now,” in which she sweetly and simply croons, “Well something’s lost, and something’s gained, in living every day.”
This line could easily serve as a summary of this week’s Torah portion, Chukat. The Israelites are once again presented with a string of losses: Miriam dies and is buried. The well, the key to survival in the wilderness, dries up. Miriam’s death is soon followed by that of her brother Aaron, the high priest. Significantly, before he dies, Aaron’s priestly garments are ceremonially transferred to his son Eleazar, signifying to the people that here will be continuity, an unbroken chain of leadership, although the losses are far from over. The Israelites are attacked by the king of Arad “who dwelt in the Negev,” and several of their people are taken captive. Soon after God delivers them, the people begin to complain, for the umpteenth time, and many of them are attacked by snakes and die. So they wander, and wander some more, all the time desperate for water.
But then God gathers them together in Be’er, which happens to be the Hebrew for “a well,” to give them, um, water. (Talk about false advertising!) The surviving people sing for the well to spring up, the chieftains dig, and water springs forth. Soon, the Amorites attack them, unprovoked, yet the Israelites successfully defend themselves and secure their passage, celebrating not only a military triumph but also a testament to divine guidance and their collective strength and unity. Not long thereafter, the Israelites are attacked by King Og of Bashan, and they again defeat their aggressors and take possession of their land. All along their journey through the desert, something is lost, and something is gained.
The roadmap set out by this parsha, while anything but linear, is a testament to the resilience of the Israelites through uncertain times. They mourn their dead. They transfer the priestly garments. Ostensibly, the tabernacle is still being erected and packed up, over and over again throughout their journey, but theirs is anything but a smooth passage, despite the cloud by day and the fire leading the way at night. While all their losses and uncertainty do lead to a crisis of faith on more than one occasion, and they find themselves under repeated attack throughout their journey, they continue to push on, to persevere, even when unsure of where their wandering will take them. This incredible resilience is encapsulated in the final verse of the parsha: "The Israelites then marched on […],” as if to say, “We have lost leaders, friends, and family members. We have faced formidable enemies along our path and may encounter more. But we are armed with faith and purpose, and we will continue to persevere in the face of uncertainty. We are survivors.”
In the immortal words of Rabbi Hillel, now go and study. Or listen to some Joni Mitchell J
Shabbot Shalom,
Rebecca Abbate
