Based on shiurim by Rav Yisrael Altusky, shlita – Yeshiva Torah Ore, Yerushalayim
I’m writing this article on Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Korach, one week after hearing the news about the U.S. bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities. I happened to wake up at 5 a.m., looked at my phone, and saw three alerts (not sirens) for incoming missiles. I turned on the radio and heard about the attack. I couldn’t fall back asleep—not sure why—and ended up davening early. Who would’ve thought that one week later there would be a ceasefire, the airport would open up, and everything would return to normal?
So why is it that many people feel like we didn’t really win? The ceasefire (or rather, “you cease and they fire”) was implemented and enforced on Israel by President Trump. Could Israel have gained more? Instead of focusing on the amazing success—no downed planes, only two lost drones, and major operational achievements—there’s little celebration. Some are even asking whether to say Hallel. Why is there this lack of clarity?
Let’s bring a lesson from the parshah to answer.
Parshas Chukas begins with the parah adumah, the laws of purity. Why is it placed here? Ramban says it completes the laws of purity from Parshas Korach. Then, the Torah jumps to the end of the 40 years in the midbar. Why the sudden shift?
Also in this parshah, we read the puzzling episode of Mei Merivah, where Moshe hits the rock instead of speaking to it. This is the sin that causes Moshe and Aharon to lose entry into Eretz Yisrael. Ramban cites various opinions, including the Rambam’s, but the sin remains unclear.
Rav Shimshon Pincus once joked: if you’d ask Moshe what the sin was, he’d answer, “Well, the Rambam says this, the Gra says that, the Maharal has his view…” It’s unclear what exactly went wrong—and it’s hard to do teshuvah when you don’t even know for what.
It was a confusing moment. Hashem commanded Moshe to speak to the rock. But where was it? It moved, and Moshe had to search. People followed him, teasing: “You were a shepherd—just looking for water in the desert again?” They even offered him a rock to perform the miracle on. He tried speaking to one—it didn’t work. So he hit it. That worked.
The Yalkut Shimoni says Bnei Yisrael challenged Moshe: “You said the sinners wouldn’t enter Eretz Yisrael—well, we’re all tzaddikim now. So why are we suffering without water?” The situation was chaotic. Why wasn’t the miracle working? Why couldn’t Moshe and Aharon get it right?
Rav Moshe Shapiro explains: at the end of a time period, such as the final stage in the midbar before entering Eretz Yisrael, the way Hashem runs the world changes. These transitions are confusing.
We are now in such a time. Before Moshiach comes, we’re told to expect hester panim—a world of hiddenness and confusion. Our role is to trust Hashem despite not understanding. Confusion doesn’t have to mean suffering. It means accepting Hashem’s plan without full comprehension.
That’s why the mitzvah of parah adumah, the ultimate chok—a law with no clear reason—is placed here. It was introduced soon after Yetzias Mitzrayim, then taught and performed at the end of the 40 years. For 38 years, Klal Yisrael had to internalize this principle: to follow Hashem’s word even when it doesn’t make sense.
Everything had been running consistently for decades, and now a shift was happening. Moshe Rabbeinu, on his great level, became confused at why the miracle wasn’t working. That confusion itself, even without sin, was the challenge he faced. His role was to rise above it and trust completely in Hashem.
We’re not suggesting another reason for his sin, but rather recognizing that the confusion at the time was immense. On his level, he was expected to respond with clarity and unshaken emunah.
The final Mishnah in Sotah repeats: “In the time before Moshiach, we will have no one to rely on but our Father in Heaven.” This is not a cry of despair—it’s a declaration of strength. In a world filled with chaos and confusion, our anchor is bitachon.
We’ve seen open miracles in this 12-day war: success against Iranian military infrastructure, damage to nuclear facilities, and minimal losses. Contrast that with the devastation in Ukraine. The miracles are real—but they’re hidden under layers of confusion.
May we be zocheh to turn confusion into clarity by strengthening our emunah and bitachon, trusting that everything is unfolding exactly as Hashem has planned. And may we merit to greet Moshiach very soon.
R’ Dovi Chaitovsky and his family are zocheh to live in Eretz Yisrael. He has the great z’chus to learn and teach Torah in Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh.
