Rabbi YY Jacobson: It is a strange episode — in this week’s portion of Chukas. When poisonous snakes attack the Jews in the desert, G-d instructs Moses to fashion a special healing instrument: a pole topped with the form of a snake. Moses sculpted a snake of copper and duly placed it on top of a pole. Those who had been afflicted by the snake bite would gaze on the serpentine image on the pole and be cured • Full Article