Why Did Hashem Give Us Mitzvot We Don't Understand?

Parashat Chukat opens with one of the Torah's most famous mysteries: the mitzvah of the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer. For generations, this commandment has been regarded as the ultimate chok—a divine decree whose full reason remains beyond human understanding.

But why would Hashem give us commandments that we cannot fully comprehend?

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, in his classic work Kedushat Levi, reveals a profound insight that sheds light not only on the Red Heifer, but on the purpose of all mitzvot.

Why Were We Created?

At first glance, it may seem that people were placed in this world primarily to deal with everyday concerns: earning a living, building a home, raising a family, and managing life's endless responsibilities.

While these things are certainly important, Kedushat Levi teaches that they are not our ultimate purpose.

The true purpose of a person's existence is to recognize and deepen their awareness of the oneness of Hashem.

Everything we experience in this world is meant to bring us closer to that goal.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak explains that in the future, when the redemption arrives, humanity will clearly recognize what was always true: the deepest purpose behind all of life's activities was to help us develop a relationship with our Creator and strengthen our awareness of His presence.

Two Types of Mitzvot

Kedushat Levi explains that the Torah's mitzvot can generally be divided into two categories.

The first category includes mitzvot that human logic readily understands.

Most people recognize the value of prohibitions against theft and murder. Acts of kindness, honesty, and helping others seem sensible even without a divine command. Human reason itself points toward these behaviors.

The second category consists of chukim—commandments whose reasons are not fully understood by the human mind.

Examples include the Red Heifer, shaatnez (the prohibition against wearing wool and linen together), and kilayim (certain prohibited mixtures).

These mitzvot cannot be fully explained through logic alone.

Why Do We Need Chukim?

This is where Rabbi Levi Yitzchak reveals his remarkable insight.

If the Torah contained only mitzvot that made perfect sense, it would be difficult to know why a person was observing them.

Does he refrain from stealing because Hashem commanded it?

Or because he understands that theft harms society?

Does he help others because it is Hashem's will?

Or simply because it feels morally correct?

The answer might not always be clear.

For that reason, Hashem gave us chukim.

When a Jew fulfills a mitzvah that cannot be fully explained by logic, it becomes obvious that he is acting out of obedience to Hashem's command. There is no other motivation that can fully account for it.

The chukim reveal that Torah observance is ultimately rooted in a relationship with the Creator, not merely in human understanding.

A Lesson for Every Mitzvah

The deeper lesson extends far beyond the Red Heifer.

The purpose of the chukim is not only to teach us how to observe those particular commandments. They teach us how to approach all mitzvot.

Even when a mitzvah makes perfect sense, a Jew fulfills it first and foremost because it is Hashem's will.

Kindness is logical.

Honesty is logical.

Respecting others is logical.

But the Torah teaches that our commitment to these values should stem from something even deeper than logic. They are part of the Creator's will for the world.

Beyond Understanding

Human understanding is valuable, and the Torah encourages us to learn, think, and seek meaning. Yet there are moments when faith requires us to go beyond what we can fully grasp.

The mitzvah of the Red Heifer reminds us that our relationship with Hashem is not built solely upon what we understand.

It is also built upon trust.

Sometimes we obey because we understand.

Sometimes we obey because we believe.

And sometimes the greatest expression of faith is fulfilling Hashem's will even when we do not fully comprehend it.

That is the deeper message behind the opening words of the parsha:

"This is the statute of the Torah."

The chukim teach us that the foundation of Torah observance is not merely understanding Hashem's commandments, but recognizing that they come from Hashem Himself.