Polemic Pedagogy: Learning from The Hebrew “Greek Tragedy” of Chukat

Animal species’ ability to teach creates a competitive advantage. Outside of Humans, Parrots and Corvids most notably enjoy success by their ability to share and transfer knowledge.

One comical moment of this pedagogy comes from African Grey Parrots. At an animal park, some salty speaking African Greys caused problems. After these foul-mouthed birds realized that their expletives directed at the park visitors were rewarded, they began to tutor their fellow winged wonders in naughty words. Their symposium of swearing was so successful that the park administrators were confronted with a multitude of parrots that swore like sailors. With no pirates to adopt them, these vulgar ancestors of dinosaurs were segregated to attempt to silence them. No Jurassic Park for you!

Teaching and passing knowledge likewise has been the hallmark of Humanity. Human’s ability to teach their fellow humans has even surpassed African Greys. Humans have created great universities to impart knowledge. These institutions, however, are plagued by the fact that they are institutions. With institutions, there is the need for order; with the need for order, there are rules.

The rules governing human education has become increasingly beset with censorship. Teaching the practical- like swearing, lol- is not enough. Thought control is valued over notions of thought or practicality. Thus, sensitivity, bias and multi-culturalism are valued more than expansive thought or usefulness.

Speaking of harmful or triggering events, in some arenas, has been a “no go” zone. Does this bubble-wrapping of information transmission knowledge serve as an effective form of pedagogy?

To illustrate the problem with the “bubble wrapping” of education, we turn to a “not so” nice event within the Torah. This event happens in the Torah Portion Chukat.

This text that offers a teaching moment is, one can say, the ultimate Hebrew “Greek Tragedy”. Chukat is the moment when one of the greatest humans ever to walk the planet faces his moment of failure. It is the moment when a person who has earned so much credit for his accomplishments must face the consequences of his actions. It is the moment in which we witness someone truly becoming unhinged in real time. This is a moment of defiance, anger and violence.

In the Chukat Torah Portion, Moses, the Leader of the Children of Israel is confronted with a crisis. There is a need for water and he is arguably feeling the pressure from the people. At that point, the Lord spoke to Moses saying “Take the staff and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron, your brother. And you shall speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will give its water.” Numbers 20:8.

Instead of following the Lord’s instruction, in front of the assembled community, ” Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice. And much water came out.” Prior to doing so, he said “Listen, rebels shall we bring water out of this rock for you?” Numbers 20:10.

Immediately after this incident, Moses is punished. “And the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me to make me holy before the eyes of the Children of Israel, therefore you shall not being this community to the land that I have given them!” Numbers 20:12.

Lessons in leadership, faith, power and consquences are abundant in this short story. This tale is a launching pad for both children and adults to think and express opinions. There are lots of “why” and “should” questions that can arise from this story. Should the fact that it involves violence somehow place the breaks on offering it up?

In sum, the Torah Portion Chukat, alone, offers up the one of the best reason’s why the Hebrew Bible has served civilization well in teaching morality. Further, greater scholarship of the Torah and Hebrew Bible can raise the level of thought to a higher level. These notions, while coming in a religious text, are values in which we see every day.

Be well!!

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