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Why do the nations specifically mock Parah Adumah when naaseh v'nishma seems far more irrational? The shiur reveals that Parah Adumah exposes the true purpose of all mitzvos: becoming ovdei Hashem (ה׳) through pure submission to His will, not pursuing personal benefits. This 'chok' principle is incomprehensible to those without a relationship with Hashem.
Rabbi Greenberg begins with a fundamental kushya: Why do the nations and Satan challenge Bnei Yisrael specifically about Parah Adumah, questioning how we can perform a mitzvah (מצוה) without understanding its reason? This seems like a weak argument compared to the much stronger challenge they could make about naaseh v'nishma, where we agreed to fulfill mitzvos without even knowing what they were. If they find it ridiculous to perform something without understanding the reason, surely it's far more ridiculous to agree to a blank check without knowing what we're committing to. The Gemara (גמרא) in Shabbos (שבת) records that a Sadducee did indeed challenge naaseh v'nishma, calling us "ima paziza" (a hasty people) who put our mouths before our ears. The response was that we trust Hashem (ה׳) completely, knowing He would never give us anything harmful or beyond our capabilities, unlike those who don't trust Him and need to evaluate everything first. This is compared to trusting a doctor's prescription without understanding the medical science behind it.
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Parshas Parah
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