Likkutei Sichot, Vol. 18: חוקת (א)

Introduction The terms “secret” and “mystery” are often used regarding mystical knowledge. The implication is that even when some measure of understanding can be gained, the essential concept remains fundamentally beyond the realm of human understanding.T...

How the Parah Adumah is a template for the super-rational nature of Judaism.

The Shelah statesChelek Torah SheBichsav, beginning of Vayeishev (p. 297a). that all Jewish festivals, including those of Rabbinic origin, are related to the Torah readings of the weeks in which they occur. Understandably, this also applies to the Festiva...

The reading for Parshas Parah begins by setting out the laws for the purification of an individual who has become ritually defiled by coming in contact with a corpse. This defilement is called tumas meis. In relation to this the MidrashBamidbar Rabbah 19:...

The commandments of the Torah are divided into three general categories: eidos, testimonies; chukim, decrees; and mishpatim, laws.See Devarim 4:45. Eidos are those commandments that recall and/or testify to past significant events. Examples are Shabbos, P...

Chukas opens with the decree of the Red Heifer. Concerning this chukah (a command that has no rational explanation), the Torah states:Bamidbar 19:2. “This is the chukah of the Torah.” By using the terminology “This is the chukah of the Torah” rather than ...

Adapted fromLikkutei Sichos, Vol. XVIII, p. 229ff What Mortal Knowledge Cannot Grasp The term Chukim refers to those mitzvos whose rationale cannot be grasped by human intellect. Within this category, however, the laws of the Red Heifer stand out as uniqu...