Monday, June 25, 2012  Chukat: The Death of a Tzaddik  Source:
Rav Kook Torah As the Israelites neared the end of their forty-
year trek in the wilderness, they lost two great leaders, Miriam
and Aaron. While a tremendous loss for the nation, their passing
had a hidden spiritual benefit.  The Torah informs us of
Miriam's death immediately after enumerating the laws of the
Parah Adumah, the red heifer whose ashes were used for
purification. The Talmudic sages already wondered what
connection there might be between Miriam's death and the Parah
Adumah :  "Why is the death of Miriam juxtaposed to the laws of
the Parah Adumah? This teaches that just as the Parah Adumah
brings atonement, so too, the death of the righteous brings
atonement." [Mo'ed Katan 28a] While this connection between
Miriam and the Parah Adumah is well-known, the continuation of
the same Talmudic statement, concerning the death of Aaron, is
less so.  "And why is the death of Aaron juxtaposed to [the
mention of] the priestly clothes? This teaches