Chukat

Chukat , Hukath , or Chukkas ( , “decree,” — the ninth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parshah) is the 39th weekly Torah portion ( parshah ) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Numbers . It constitutes Numbers 19:1–22:1 . Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in late June or July. The lunisolar Hebrew calendar contains up to 55 weeks , the exact number varying among years. In most years (for example, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017), parshah Chukat is read separately. In some years (for example, 2009), parshah Chukat is combined with the subsequent parshah, Balak , to help achieve the needed number of weekly readings. Jews also read the first part of the parshah, Numbers 19:1–22, in addition to the regular weekly Torah portion, on the Sabbath after Purim , called Shabbat Parah . On Shabbat Parah, a reader chants the regular weekly Torah portion first, and then a reader chants the chapter of the red cow ( parah adumah ). Shabbat Parah occurs shortly before Passover , and Numbers 19:1–22 sets out the procedure by which the Israelites could purify themselves from the contamination caused by a corpse, and so prepare for the pilgrimage festival of Passover. Moses Striking Water from the Rock (painting circa 1633–1635 by Nicolas Poussin )

Chukat , Hukath , or Chukkas ( – Hebrew for "decree," the ninth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah) is the 39th weekly Torah portion ( , parashah ) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Numbers . It constitutes Numbers 19:1–22:1 . The parashah is the shortest weekly Torah portion in the book of Numbers (although not the shortest in the Torah), and is made up of 4,670 Hebrew letters, 1,245 Hebrew words, and 87 verses , and can occupy about 159 lines in a Torah Scroll ( , Sefer Torah ). Jews generally read it in late June or July. In most years (for example, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025), parashah Chukat is read separately. In some years (for example, 2020 and 2023) when the second day of Shavuot falls on a Sabbath in the Diaspora (where observant Jews observe Shavuot for two days), parashah Chukat is combined with the subsequent parashah, Balak , in the Diaspora to synchronize readings thereafter with those in Israel (where Jews observe Shavuot for one day). Jews also read the first part of the parashah, Numbers 19:1–22, in addition to the regular weekly Torah portion, on the Sabbath after Purim , called Shabbat Parah . On Shabbat Parah, a reader chants the regular weekly Torah portion first, and then a reader chants the chapter of the red cow ( , parah adumah ). Shabbat Parah occurs shortly before Passover , and Numbers 19:1–22 sets out the procedure by which the Israelites could purify themselves from Tumat HaMet ("the impurity of death" - the contamination caused by contact with a corpse), and so prepare for the pilgrimage festival of Passover. Moses Striking Water from the Rock (painting circa 1633–1635 by Nicolas Poussin ) "Torah Stats – Bemidbar" .

Hebrew for "decree" For places in Iran, see Chukat, Iran . Moses Striking Water from the Rock (painting circa 1633–1635 by Nicolas Poussin ) Chukat , HuQath , Hukath , or Chukkas ( חֻקַּת — Hebrew for "decree," the ninth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah ) is the 39th weekly Torah portion ( פָּרָשָׁה , parashah ) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the Book of Numbers . The parashah sets out the laws of corpse contamination ( tumat hamet ) and purification with the water of lustration prepared with the Red Cow ( פָרָה אֲדֻמָּה , parah adumah , also called the "Red Heifer"). It also reports the deaths of Miriam and Aaron , the failure of Moses at the Waters of Meribah , and the conquest of Arad , the Amorites , and Bashan . The parashah comprises Numbers 19:1–22:1 . The parashah is the shortest weekly Torah portion in the Book of Numbers (although not the shortest in the Torah), and is made up of 4,670 Hebrew letters, 1,245 Hebrew words, 87 verses , and 159 lines in a Torah Scroll ( סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה , Sefer Torah ). Jews generally read it in late June or July. In most years (for example, in 2024, 2025, and 2028), parashat Chukat is read separately. In some years (for example, 2023, 2026, and 2027) when the second day of Shavuot falls on a Sabbath in the Diaspora (where observant Jews observe Shavuot for two days), parashat Chukat is combined with the subsequent parashah, Balak , in the Diaspora to synchronize readings thereafter with those in Israel (where Jews observe Shavuot for one day). Jews also read the first part of the parashah, Numbers 19:1–22 , in addition to the regular weekly Torah portion, on the Sabbath after Purim , called Shabbat Parah . On Shabbat Parah, a reader chants the regular weekly Torah portion first, and then a reader chants the chapter of the Red Cow. Shabbat Parah occurs shortly before Passover , and Numbers 19:1–22 sets out the procedure by which the Israelites could purify themselves from the impurity of death ( tumat hamet ), and so prepare for the Pilgrimage Festival of Passover.

Hebrew for "decree" For places in Iran, see Chukat, Iran . Moses Striking Water from the Rock (painting circa 1633–1635 by Nicolas Poussin ) Chukat , HuQath , Hukath , or Chukkas ( חֻקַּת — Hebrew for "decree," the ninth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah ) is the 39th weekly Torah portion ( פָּרָשָׁה , parashah ) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the Book of Numbers . The parashah sets out the laws of corpse contamination ( tumat hamet ) and purification with the water of lustration prepared with the Red Cow ( פָרָה אֲדֻמָּה , parah adumah , also called the "Red Heifer"). It also reports the deaths of Miriam and Aaron , the failure of Moses at the Waters of Meribah , and the conquest of Arad , the Amorites , and Bashan . The parashah comprises Numbers 19:1–22:1. The parashah is the shortest weekly Torah portion in the Book of Numbers (although not the shortest in the Torah), and is made up of 4,670 Hebrew letters, 1,245 Hebrew words, 87 verses , and 159 lines in a Torah Scroll ( סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה , Sefer Torah ). Jews generally read it in late June or July. In most years (for example, in 2025 and 2028), Parashat Chukat is read separately. In some years (for example, 2026 and 2027) when the second day of Shavuot falls on a Sabbath in the Diaspora (where observant Jews observe Shavuot for two days), Parashat Chukat is combined with the subsequent parashah, Balak , in the Diaspora to synchronize readings thereafter with those in Israel (where Jews observe Shavuot for one day). Jews also read the first part of the parashah, Numbers 19:1–22, in addition to the regular weekly Torah portion, on the Sabbath after Purim , called Shabbat Parah . On Shabbat Parah, a reader reads the regular weekly Torah portion first, and then a reader reads the chapter of the Red Cow. Shabbat Parah occurs shortly before Passover , and Numbers 19:1–22 sets out the procedure by which the Israelites could purify themselves from the impurity of death ( tumat hamet ), and so prepare for the Pilgrimage Festival of Passover.