“Our parashah this week is Hukkat (say “choo-kaht”; sounds like “who caught”). Actually, this Hebrew word shares the same root word as a previous Torah portion. The last portion of Vayikra (Leviticus), known as Parashat B’chukkotai (say “b-choo-koh-tie”; the “ch” is as the “ch” in Bach) also comes from our root word. The root word from which our Torah portion’s title is taken is “choke” חֹק, and it means “statute, limit, ordinance, something prescribed.” This should not be confused with its synonym “Torah” which is also sometimes translated along these same lines. The main difference is the nuance that each word is attempting to convey: choke=ordinance; Torah=teaching.

Because the portion deals with a central Torah injunction (the ashes of the Red Heifer), I want to briefly repeat some of the important concepts concerning Torah as Law. Some of my material will actually come from the above-mentioned Torah portion of B’chukkotai.”