Chukat

Shabbat  Parashat Chukat 5784

Why parah aduma is required specifically for tumat met
Let us examine the parah adumah; especially the fascinating fact that its function of tahara is limited to tumat met.
Or HaChaim  (Hiloula next Wednesday night) elaborates on the fact that Bnei Yisrael only required the parah adumah after matan torah. He explains that tumah is by definition, a departure from holiness and purity. Therefore, only after Bnei Yisrael were elevated and sanctified by receiving the Torah, did it become possible for them to become tameh. 
Or HaChaim continues to explain the idea that the halachot of tumat met apply only to a Jewish corpse, and not to goyim, with a famous parable: Two vessels, one filled with honey and the other with garbage which are left outside unattended. Which one will attract more flies and worms? Surely, the honey. So too, the powerful tumah of met will only attach to the body of a Jew; for the Jewish body was an abode for the holy neshama, and the void it leaves when it departs the body is the essence of tumat met.

Ramban and Kli Yakar, write regarding the fact that tumat met was only after matan torah, that if Bnei Yisrael would have merited to receive the Torah as it was intended, tumat met would only have occurred when someone died an untimely death at the hands of Malach HaMavet;  those righteous ones who would merit  to die mitat neshika,  without the involvement of Malach HaMavet  would not have incurred tumat met. 
When the Bnei Yisrael sinned at the golden calf, it was decreed that tumat met should apply to all deaths, therefore  its tahara  is specifically through parah aduma  which comes to atone for the chet haegel.

The relationship between tumat met and naaseh v’nishma.
Bnei Yisrael attained this great level of Kedusha at Har Sinai through their proclamation of naaseh v’nishma. They asserted that they would accept the commands of Hashem without trying to understand them, rather they would have full trust in the One who is issuing the commands. This selfless submission to the Will of Hashem, the yearning to be His servants, elevated them to such a level of connection to Heaven, that the Malach HaMavet was rendered powerless against them and therefore they would not have tumat met.
Let us elaborate somewhat on the above. At Har Sinai the impurity that was inherent in Man since the sin of the etz hadaat was expunged. They were elevated to a level free of tumat met unless initiated by the Malach HaMavet . What enabled them to reach this level of purity? 
Perhaps we may deduce that it was the historical declaration naaseh v’nishma. When Bnei Yisrael uttered those words from the depths of their hearts, united with a common will, they accepted unconditionally the Yoke of Heaven. This declaration of their deepest will to totally subjugate themselves to Hashem’s will. By putting the naaseh before the nishma they all attested to their will to uphold the laws of the Torah without trying to understand them with their human logic. They wanted to “do” and only then to “hear”. 
Through this astounding display of subjugation they merited to elevate themselves above a great part of tumat met. Alas, by the sin of the egel, Satan succeeded in confusing the world; fear, trepidation and doubt entered the hearts of men. This confusion led them to the grave sin which in turn renewed the more severe halachot of tumat met. 
There is an apparent link between the level of Bnei Yisrael’s connection to Hashem and the level of purity they merit, due to the fact that they are expunged from tumah when they cleave to faith and subjugation. What brought on their purity was the declaration of naaseh v’nishma; what negated it was their doubt and confusion that caused them to distance themselves from Hashem at the egel.
Now we can understand why parah adumah was given as a chok, a seemingly enigmatic mitzvah. For only through performing a commandment the reason of which eludes us, can we rectify the confusion and doubt that brought us to the grave sin of the egel. The display of faith inherent in upholding a chok , strengthens the ties which bring purity to Bnei Yisrael.

 May we all merit to remember always that everything is from Hashem, and merit to serve Him in earnest with awe, trepidation and surrender of our bodies and our desires to His will. 

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Gad Bouskila