Misjudgment of Halacha

The Yalkut makes a comment that needs explanation related to Moshe Rabbeinu’s hitting the rock. “The Holy One Blessed Be He said to Moshe,

My children are dying from thirst, and you are mourning for that old lady (Miriam).”

The Yalkut further explained that Moshe was to first learn a little bit of Torah. The people would see that in the merit of Torah, the rock would give water.

Moshe thought he couldn’t do that because an אבל, a mourner, is forbidden from learning Torah, so he hesitated from speaking to the rock.

Hashem was telling Moshe that he was exempt from mourning in order to take care of the needs of the people. He was permitted to teach Torah because of the needs of the moment.

Unfortunately, Moshe gave into his anger, and did not listen to Hashem, and hit the rock. We see that he also needed clarification of what his priorities needed to be at that time.

It is a good lesson for all of us. While it is important to carefully observe the Halacha, there are times when the needs of the moment, take precedence over that particular Halacha.