Sanctifying Life by Sensitizing to Death
The news bombards us with stories of violence. The horrific shootings at the 4th of July parade in Highland Park came on the heels of Uvalde. All of this gun violence, all of this death is overwhelming. In the face of being overwhelmed, we might be tempted to lose our sensitivity to the pain of death or habituate to the prevalence of gun violence in our country. Yet, Chukat offers a remedy through an esoteric ritual.
The Torah outlines the process for a death. Anyone who comes in contact with the dead body remains impure for a week. Then, that person must undergo a process of purification including offering a sacrifice. The ritual forces the participant to face their closeness with death. It exacts a cost from them. In doing so, it may also incentivize each person to do everything in their power to prevent needless death.
What if we, too, engaged in a ritual whenever we heard of a death? How might that change how we act?
Rabbi Avi Fine