Should You 'Start With Why?'

A thought on Parashas Chukas

My father often tells the old story of the futuristic computer in which you could ask any question and it would spit out an answer. The smartest people from all over the world came and they were unable to stump the computer. Until, one fellow came and asked one question. Why? With this question, the computer disintegrated. 

The parashah is named Chukas. The word Chukas or its root Chok appears many times throughout the Torah. A Chok is a law that is unbendable. It is a law that can be misunderstood and many times is not understood, yet we still must abide by it. 

Rav Moshe Dovid Vali teaches us¹ that anything that is required for the continued existence of the world, is called a Chok. 

We find in Eishes Chayil² that Chok is also defined as sustenance, whether spiritual or physical.

ותקם בעוד לילה ותתן טרף לביתה וחק לנערתיה

Ralbag³ explains that this is referring to the sustenance needed to maintain the physical and emotional health of the household. 

We see further this idea of a Chok being that which is to be reckoned with, else it would cause the deterioration of a household or the entire universe. 

It would seem that when it comes to Chukim, “Why?” cannot be asked. For just by asking why, the world would disintegrate. 

Let’s rewind a bit. 

There are two different types of mitzvos: Chukim and Mishpatim. A Chok is a mitzvah which at first glance appears to have no logical reason, such as the law of the Para Aduma. A Mishpat, on the other hand, is a mitzvah which can be understood at a simple human level, such as the mitzvah "Do not steal"⁴ .

Now let’s shake things up a bit.

Rav Kook⁵ teaches us that every single mitzvah has two parts. There is a part that is a Mishpat, that which is understood on a simple human level. There is another part which is a Chok, that which cannot be understood on a a simple human level. Each and every mitzvah, even one such as the Para Aduma, has a Chok level of reasons which we do not yet understand, while it has a parallel Mishpat level of reasons that have already been revealed. We see that we can understand the mitzvah on the Mishpat level, but to understand it on the Chok level requires a broader measure of knowledge or entirely impossible. 

At the Pesach Seder we ask: mah haeidus hachukim u’mishpatim…”. The questions we ask are very human questions directed to understand the why of what we do. By asking “Why?” we improve ourselves, while also furthering our understanding of Hashem and the mitzvos that He gave us. 

There are situations  in life that we find ourselves in, which we can understand on the simple human level and perhaps even on deeper levels. These are called Mishpatim. Then, there are situations we are placed in, which we may not even understand why we are there on the simple human level. We may have to dig deep to come to an explanation. This is called a Chok.

We can ask why, but we may not get the answer.

Whether we understand it or not, we must embrace it. We must realize that we were placed in this situation by Hashem and the ultimate goal is to bring sustenance to the world, to your community, to your family and even to yourself. 

Take some time and explore: What are the things that you do that are clearly understood and what are the things that although they are not accompanied with great clarity, you know you must do it. What are the Mishpatim and Chukim in your own life?

The better we understand that which we do, and even understand that it may be impossible to understand, the better we will foster a  greater appreciation for that which we do.

1. Vayikra 16

2. Mishlei 31

3. ibid.

4. Shemos 20:13

5. Orot Hamitzva, Chapter 3