In Parshat Huqqat, (Numbers 19:1-22:1) Moses is taught the laws of the Red Heifer, whose ashes purify a person who has been contaminated by contact with a dead body. After 40 years of journeying through the desert, the people of Israel arrive in the wilderness of Zin and the people thirst for water. G-d tells Moses to speak to a rock and command it to give water. Moses gets angry at the rebellious Israelites and strikes the stone. Water issues forth, but Moses is told by G-d that neither he nor Aaron will enter the Promised Land.

Aaron dies and is succeeded by his son Elazar. Snakes attack the Israelite camp after yet another eruption of discontent in which the people “speak against G-d and Moses”; G-d tells Moses to place a brass serpent upon a high pole, and all who will gaze heavenward will be healed. The people sing a song in honor of the miraculous well that provided the water in the desert. The Parsaha ends with Moses leading the people in battles against the Emorite kings.

The Parsha contains many verses and stories that deal with Human Rights. Here are a few commentaries on Parshat Huqqat by Rabbis associated with Rabbis for Human Rights.

• Huqqat: Human Rights and the Purification of Society
• Huqqat: Act according to the Golden Mean
• Huqqat: Thinking Before Speaking

Recent Articles by Rabbis for Human Rights

• Yom Kippur Vidui - October 1st, 2008
• RHR helps families access burial plots - July 18th, 2008
• In Memoriam: Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev - July 15th, 2008
• Huqqat: Human Rights and a pure society - July 1st, 2008
• Shelah: Human Rights in a lush and bountiful land - June 15th, 2008
• Behar: Human Rights and Social Justice - May 16th, 2008
• Prayer for the State of Israel - May 7th, 2008
• Tractate Independence - May 1st, 2008
• Rabbi Ben Hollander zekher tzadik livrakha - February 10th, 2008
• Noah: Righteousness in Our Generation - October 15th, 2007
• Yom Kippur - September 20th, 2007
• Make Your Voice Heard: A Guide to Israeli Government Officials - July 22nd, 2007
• Parashat Vayechi - July 9th, 2007
• Yitro/Meira welt - July 9th, 2007
• JURY AND BEIT DIN - DEVAR TORAH FOR SHABBAT MISHPATIM - July 9th, 2007
• Dvar Torah - Parashat Va-Yakhel-Pekudei - July 9th, 2007
• Dvar Torah Parashat Vayikra - July 8th, 2007
• Dvar Torah - Parashat Shemini: When Words Fail Us. - July 8th, 2007
• Dvar Torah – Parashat Metzorah - July 8th, 2007
• Dvar Torah – Bamidbar - July 8th, 2007
• Dvar Torah - The Value of Peace As a Religious Goal - July 8th, 2007
• Dvar Torah – B’Haalotkha - July 8th, 2007
• Desecrating Their Graves- Desecrating Our Souls - July 8th, 2007
• Dvar Torah – Parashat Pinchas - July 8th, 2007
• Dvar Torah – Parashat Balak - July 8th, 2007
• Happy are they who maintain justice, and do righteousness at all times - June 27th, 2007
• Rabbis for Human Rights Annual General Meeting - February 22nd, 2007
• Stop Wisconsin - February 8th, 2007
• Tu B'shvat: Our tradition of Human Rights for all of G-d's creations - February 1st, 2007
• Tu B'shvat: Partners in Creation and protecting the Human Rights of all - February 1st, 2007
• Tu BShvat: RHR to plant trees in the Galilee - January 29th, 2007
• RHR officiates at memorial service for victims of the 2007 State Budget - January 2nd, 2007
• Rabbis for Human Rights seeks to increase Health Care Budget - December 25th, 2006
• Our Mission - November 21st, 2006
• Educational Programs and Planting Trees - November 21st, 2006
• Human Rights Education Programs - November 21st, 2006
• Indentured Servants - November 21st, 2006
• Interfaith Dialogue - November 21st, 2006
• Economic and Social Justice - November 21st, 2006
• Professor Aviezer Ravitzky is seriously injured - October 16th, 2006
• Rabbi Max Warschawski zt"l - September 14th, 2006
• Supporters - September 9th, 2006
• Olive Tree Campaign - September 9th, 2006
• Human Rights Educational Initiatives - September 6th, 2006
• Separation Barrier - September 6th, 2006
• Human Rights Yeshiva - September 2nd, 2006
• Defense of Palestinian Human Rights - September 1st, 2006
• Women's Rights - September 1st, 2006
• Israeli Arabs Rights - September 1st, 2006
• Principles of Faith - September 1st, 2006
• Rabbis for Human Rights - September 1st, 2006
• Wanted: People to adopt people from disaster afflicted areas - August 11th, 2006
• RHR rabbis and volunteers visit the bomb-shelters in Qiriat Bialik - August 3rd, 2006
• Jerusalem Mayor announces intention to demolish home - July 28th, 2006
• Prof. Shlomo Avineri discusses Israel Citizenship Law with Rabbis For Human Rights - July 9th, 2006
• Human Rights and Self-Defense: Open meeting of the RHR Human Rights Yeshiva. - May 26th, 2006
• Arab World Human Rights Organizations - May 23rd, 2006
• International NGO Human Rights Organizations - May 23rd, 2006
• Palestine National Authority NGO Human Rights Organizations - May 23rd, 2006
• Israeli NGO Human Rights Organizations - May 23rd, 2006
• Resource Centers - May 23rd, 2006
• RHR Dedicates New Office and Celebrates Niwano Peace Prize - May 19th, 2006
• Economic Justice - May 15th, 2006
• Guarantee Agricultural Access: Participate in planting, plowing, pruning, reaping and and harvesting efforts - May 15th, 2006
• Action Center - May 15th, 2006
• Education - May 15th, 2006
• Economic, Social and Cultural rights - May 15th, 2006
• Children - May 15th, 2006
• Business & Human Rights - May 15th, 2006
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - May 15th, 2006
• Rabbis for Human Rights Receives Niwano Peace Prize - May 11th, 2006
• Dialogue with the Presbyterian Church USA - April 21st, 2006
• Who Sits With Us At Our Seder?: Haggadah Supplement 5766 - April 7th, 2006
• Board of Directors - January 9th, 2006
• What you can do - January 5th, 2006
• Contact Rabbis for Human Rights - September 14th, 2003
• Protect Housing Rights: Act against discrimination in matters relating to land, development and housing construction. - April 16th, 2003
• Donate - January 14th, 2003
• Who We Are - January 21st, 2000

Categories: Huqqat
Tags: Bo, Emor, Features, human rights, Huqqat, palestinians, settlers