Parshas Chukas - Balak

• Le'iluy Nishmas Devorah Leah bas Zvi

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Another great Parsha with many ideas for your Parsha Party. REMINDER - THIS IS A SPRINGBOARD OF IDEAS. YOU CAN CHOOSE ONE IDEA OR A FEW. AND HAVE THE KIDS GUESS THE CONNECTIONS.

Parsha Overview (Feel free to skip straight to the Party below - simply click the arrow next to this text and the overview will disappear

Chukas

The Mitzvah of Para Aduma

Hashem gives the nation a Mitzvah that is a “Chok”: Para Aduma.

Take a perfectly red cow with no Mum (blemish) that never carried a yoke before. (Rashi – if there are even 2 black hairs then the cow is Pasul/doesn't work for Para Aduma).

The cow is brought to Elazar HaKohen and shechted outside the camp. Elazar is to sprinkle the blood 7x towards the Mishkan and all parts of the cow get burned. Then he throws the following items into the fire: a cedar wood, hyssop, and red wool string. Now the Kohen becomes Tameh (spiritually impure) and needs to wash his clothing and immerse in a mikvah.

The ashes of the Para Adumah are taken and used to purify people.

A dead body is Tameh and can spread the tumah

Anyone that touches a dead body is Tameh for 7 days. On the 3rd and 7th day he purifies himself with the ashes from the Para Aduma.

If someone does not purify himself with the ashes of the Para Aduma sprinkled on him, and enters the courtyard of the Mishkan, he will get Kares (spiritually cut off).

If someone enters the tent where there is a dead body, then they become Tameh from it. Any unsealed vessels in the tent become Tameh.

Anyone that touches the dead body of someone that was killed by sword, or a dead body, or a human bone, or a grave, becomes Tameh.

The person that does the sprinkling on the Tameh person, should be someone that is Tahor. And this person becomes Tameh from sprinkling the sprinkling until nighttime.

Anything and anyone that the Tameh person touches becomes Tameh.

Miriam dies and the well dries up

After 40 years in the Midbar, the people arrived at Midbar Tzin in the first month. They settled in Kadesh where Miriam died and was buried. After she died, the well dried up and the people had no water. They began to fight with Moshe saying they wish they had died with the others. They complained that Moshe brought them out of Mitzrayim to the Midbar which is not a place of seeds, figs, grapes and pomegranates and there is no water to drink.

Moshe and Aharon immediately fall on their face and daven to Hashem.

Speak to the Rock for water

Hashem tells Moshe to take his stick and speak to the rock and it will give forth water. Moshe gathers the people and says “Listen, you rebellious ones, can we draw water for you from this rock?” Then Moshe hits the rock twice and water comes out. (Rashi: He first tried speaking to it but was talking to the wrong rock. He then hit it and only a few drops came out. Then hit it again and water rushed out.) Hashem was not happy that he hit the rock. He said that because of this, Moshe and Aharon will not lead the people into Eretz Yisrael. The name of the place is called Mei Meriva.

Permission requested to pass through Edom to get to Eretz Yisrael

Moshe sends a message to Edom to ask for permission for the Jewish People to pass through their land to get to Eretz Yisrael. He says they will stick to the main roads and not take food or drink there but Edom refuses to allow it.

Aharon gives over his clothing to Elazar and Hashem takes his Neshama peacefully

Instead, they turned and went to Har Hor. There Hashem told Moshe to take Aharon and his son Elazar to the mountain and switch the Kohen Gadol clothing from Aharon to Elazar. Rashi says that Aharon entered a cave and there was a bed in there and Hashem told Moshe to have him stretch his hands out, close his eyes, and close his mouth and Hashem took his Neshama. When the people saw that Aharon had passed away, they mourned for 30 days. Rashi says that the clouds that were with them left them when Aharon died.

Enemies come out to fight

The Canaani king of Arad in the south (Rashi says it was Amalek who lived in the south) heard that the Jewish people were coming and went to fight with them and took a captive. The people davened to Hashem and promised that if Hashem helps them win, they will make the cities that they win holy for Hashem. Hashem heard their voice and gave it over into their hands.

They complain again about the hard journey and Hashem sends snakes!

They traveled from Har Hor, alongside the Yam Suf to circumvent Edom. It was a very hard journey for the people. Once again, they began to complain that Moshe brought them up from Mitzrayim. They complained about the Mann which they called spoiled bread because it would absorb into their limbs and not leave their bodies. Hashem sent venomous snakes to punish them and many people died.

The people beg Moshe to daven for them to stop the snake bites and heal them. Hashem tells Moshe to make a big serpent and put it on a pole and anyone that was bitten and looks at it will be healed. (Fun Fact – this is the symbol for many hospitals until today!)

Moshe made a snake out of copper because Nachash and Nechoshes are connected.

The travels continue and more battles ensue and Hashem helps them win

The nation travels to more places in the dessert. They sing a song in honor of the Be’er – Well, that gave them water in the Midbar.

The Jewish people sent a message to Sichon the king of Emori to see if they can peacefully pass through their land but Sichon said “No” and came to fight with them. Hashem made them win the battles and inherit the land. They turned towards the land of Bashan and the king Og came out to fight with them. Hashem told them not to worry and delivered the enemy into their hands.

Balak

Moav sees the Jewish Nation coming

The nation travelled to the plains of Moav. Balak, the king of Moav, saw them coming and had heard about what happened to Sichon and Og. The people of Moav were quite petrified. They became disgusted with the thought of the Jewish people in their land and they went and told Midyan that the Jews will come eat everything they had.

Balak seeks Bilaam's help

Balak sends messengers to the famed Bilaam to tell him that so many Jews are in his land and that he needs Bilaam to curse thiem so he can wage a successful war against them. Bilaam was known to have the power of blessing and cursing.

The elders of Midyan and Moav go to Bilaam with magic charms in their hands. Bilaam tells them to wait and sleep over the night as he must first consult with Hashem to see if He will grant permission. Bilaam only merited Hashem to speak to him at night time.

Hashem warns Bilaam not to go

Hashem appears to Bilaam and asks him “Who are these people?” Bilaam answers that Balak sent them. Hashem tells Bilaam not to go and curse the Jewish people because they are a blessed nation. BIlaam sends away the messengers because he cannot go and curse.

Balak tries again

Balak sends new greater men to convince Bilaam. Bilaam responds that even if Balak were to give him a house full of silver and gold, he cannot do anything against the will of Hashem. He tells them again to remain overnight and he will see what Hashem says to him.

Hashem appears to him and tells him he can go along on condition that he is bound to say whatever Hashem puts in his mouth.

Bilaam goes and a Malach blocks his donkey

Bilaam gets up early in the morning, saddles his donkey, and goes on the journey with the messengers. Hashem was really angry and sent a Malach to block him. The donkey was able to see the Malach but Bilaam could not. The Malach stood there with a sword in hand and the donkey tried to turn away from it. Bilaam got angry and hit the donkey to direct it back on path.

Again, the Malach appears and stands in the way of the donkey with a fence blocking on both sides of him. The donkey sees the Malach and tries to squeeze around it, smashing Bilaam’s leg on the fence. An angry Bilaam hits the donkey once again. The Malach continues further along the pathway and blocks them on a very narrow passageway. The donkey stops suddenly and crouches down under Bilaam when it sees it cannot get by. Bilaam is furious and keeps hitting the donkey with his stick. He did not see the Malach and had no idea what was causing this radical behavior.

The Donkey yells at Bilaam!

Hashem then opened the mouth of the donkey and it begins to speak to Bilaam saying “What have I done to you that you hit me three times!”

Bilaam responds to the donkey that it was humiliating him and if he had a sword he would kill it.

The donkey tells Bilaam, I have been your trusted donkey that you have always ridden on, and I have never done anything like this to you!

Hashem opens Bilaam's eyes

Suddenly Hashem opened Bilaam’s eyes and he saw the Malach standing in front of him with a sword in his hand. He quickly bows to the Malach.

The Malach rebukes Bilaam for hitting the donkey and says had it not turned away, the Malach would have killed Bilaam. Bilaam responds “Chatasi” I sinned. I didn’t realize it. The Malach tells Bilaam to continue going with his men but whatever Hashem says to say he will need to say.

Bilaam and Balak meet up

Balak goes out to Moav to meet Bilaam and says “Why didn’t you come to me?” Bilaam says “I have come to you but do I have power to say anything? It is whatever Hashem puts into my mouth.”

Balak slaughters some cattle for Bilaam and in the morning takes him up to Bamos Baal where he can see part of the nation.

Bilaam tells Balak to build seven Mizbayachs and bring seven rams. He brings his sacrifice and Bilaam goes alone to try and see if Hashem will appear to him by day because usually, He only appears to him at night. Hashem appears to him by “chance” and tells him to go back to Balak and He will put words in his mouth.

Bilaam blesses the Jewish people

Bilaam tells him “You wanted me to curse the Jewish people but how can I curse them without Hashem cursing them? From their beginning I see them as mountain peaks, they are a nation that dwells alone and not with other nations” … He blessed the Jewish people.

Balak is furious and tries again but fails

Balak was very upset and tries to get Bilaam to say curses on the people. Again, Bilaam tries but Hashem sends him blessings on the people. Bilaam sees that Hashem only wants to say good things and he says "Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov" – how great are the tents of Yaakov…. And continues with more blessings.

Balak is furious and claps his hands in anger at Bilaam. Bilaam keeps saying good things about Hashem and the people and then leaves.

The Jewish People sin terribly in Moav

The Jewish people stayed by Moav and started to act inappropriately with the girls of Moav and started to serve the Baal Peor. Hashem was very angry and said the leaders that were sinning need to be hanged and hit them with a plague. There was a man from the Jewish People that went and did a terrible Aveira with a girl from Midyan.

Pinchas was brave and stood up against this terrible act and stabbed a spear into them to kill them.

The plague stopped.

(Adapted partially from Chabad.org, and The Pesukim and Rashi and Medrash Says)

And now for the fun part

PARSHA PARTY

SNACKS LISTED FIRST SO YOU CAN TRY AND GUESS TOO!

CHUKAS

• Red Candies

• Cow Chocolate

• Yolk candy

• Red Powerade

• Gummy Bones

• Rock Candy

• Sparkling / Flavored Water

• Pretzel sticks

• Cry Babies

• Salt Water Taffies

• Snake Candy

• Flutes

• Tents made out of Graham Crackers and fluff/peanut butter/Choco Spread

Red Candies – The Chok given of Para Aduma to purify people that become Tameh from a dead person

Cow Chocolate- (Look for Pareve) The Para Aduma – red cow

Egg Yolk Gummies – The Para Aduma cannot have carried a “yoke”

Red Powerade – Para Adumah and the ashes that are sprinkled to make the person Tahor again

Gummy Bones – If someone touches a dead body or bone they become Tameh

Rock Candy – Moshe was told to speak to the rock and ends up hitting it for water to come out

Sparkling / Flavored Water – The well of Miriam stopped when she died

Pretzel sticks – Moshe took his stick to hit the rock.

Cry Babies, Salt Water Taffies  – ALL of the people cried when Aharon died

Snake Candy – The people were punished for complaining again with snakes that bit them and Moshe had to take a copper snake and put it up on a stick and when they would look at it they would be healed

Flutes – The people sang a song about the well

Tents made out of Graham Crackers and fluff/peanut butter/Choco Spread – Someone in a tent with a dead body becomes Tameh

BALAK

• Gummi Magic bears

• Fruity Peak

• Dunkees

• Lego Blocks Candy

• Money Rolls

• Lip candy

• Animal Cookies

• Tents made out of Graham Crackers and fluff/peanut butter/Choco Spread

Gummi Magic bears – The Midyani people came to Bilam with magic charms in their hands. Also the Mov people used Magic charms for enticing the Jewish people

Fruity Peak – Bilaam blessed the Jews from the mountain peaks and also blessed them with mountain peaks

Dunkees – Bilaams donkey saw the Malach and kept turning off the road

Lego Blocks Candy – The donkey tried to squeeze around the malach smashing Bilaams leg on the wall

Money Rolls – Bilaam said all the gold and silver and money wouldn’t be able to do anything if Hashem does not allow

Lip candy – Bilaam blessed the Jewish people instead of cursing. Also Moshe was told to speak to the rock

Animal Cookies – The donkey of Bilaam, the animals that Balak brought as sacrifices

Tents made out of Graham Crackers and fluff/peanut butter/Choco Spread – Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov the Bracha of Bilaam

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

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Dedications - All that learn Torah through Parsha Party should be a zechus for the following people:

Baruch Hashem the remaining live hostages have returned home!

• Zechus for Klal Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael and all the soldiers fighting to protect the nation

• Zechus for the wounded and grieving soldiers and hostages to recover physically and emotionally.

• Le'iluy Nishmas the soldiers lost in battle and all the Kedoshim lost on 10.7.23

• Le'iluy Nishmas: Miriam bas Avraham

• Le'iluy Nishmas: Gittel a"h bas Shraga Meir Hakohen

• Le'iluy Nishmas Tziporah Chana a"h bas Yaakov Avraham Eliyahu

• Le'iluy Nishmas Eliyahu zt"l ben R' Chaim Yitzchak and Raizel a"h bas R' Dovid Mordechai

• Le'iluy Nishmas Moshe ben Dovid

• Le'iluy Nishmas Meir Naftoli ben Tzvi Halevi

• Le'iluy Nishmas Shneur Zalman ben Yitzchak HaKohen

• Le'iluy Nishmas Shalom ben Shraga Meir HaKohen

• L'eiluy Nishmas Dina bas Nosson Zev

• Le'iluy Nishmas Moshe Naftali ben Yechiel

• Le'iluy Nishmas Tzvi ben Moshe

• Le'iluy Nishmas Fradel bas Chaim Dovid

• Le'iluy Nishmas Aharon Tzvi ben Tzvi

• Le'iluy Nishmas Leba Malka bas Yehuda

• Le'iluy Nishmas Dovid Yehoshua ben Aharon Tzvi

• Refuah Sheleima for Yehudis Miriam bas Dina

• Le'iluy Nishmas Devorah Leah bas Zvi

• Le'iluy Nishmas Avraham Simcha ben Yehuda Leib