B"H
Friday, Adar 17, 5780 / March 13, 2020
Two Torah scrolls will be removed from the ark this Shabbat. In the first Torah we will read the weekly Parsha, Ki-Tisa. In the second Torah we read Parshat Para (Numbers chapter 19). The reading of Parshat Para is about the laws of the “Para Adumah” (red heifer).
This Shabbat is the third of the four special Torah readings before Pesach.
Q. What is Parshat Para about?
A. In the days of the Beth HaMikdash (Holy Temple), one was not permitted to enter the Temple if he or she had become impure by coming in contact with a dead body. As part of the spiritual purification process, water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer had to be sprinkled upon the person. This would render them spiritually clean. The red heifer had to be completely red. If it had two hairs of a different color, it was disqualified for this purpose.
According to our sages, only 10 red heifers are due to be offered from the time of Moshe until the coming of Moshiach, of which nine have already been offered, while the tenth will be brought at the time of Moshiach.
Q. How does the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer render a person spiritually clean?
A. The Torah refers to this law as "ChukatHaTorah." The term "Chukat" is associated with mitzvot which are beyond the realm of human logic and understanding. For example, while the impure person, upon whom the ashes were sprinkled, became spiritually clean, the Kohen, who sprinkled the mixture of ashes and water, became impure himself! G-d didn’t reveal the reason and logic of this mitzvah. Even King Solomon, the wisest of all men, said that the understanding of this mitzvah was beyond him.
Q. Why is Parshat Para read at this time of the year, before Pesach?
A. We read Parshat Para at this time to help us prepare for the month of Nissan, the month of our redemption and the holiday of Pesach, the holiday of our redemption. Our sages say "B'Nisan nig'alu ub'nissan asidin lehiga'el" - "in the month of Nissan Jews were originally liberated (from Egypt) and in the month of Nissan we will ultimately be liberated (the redemption through Moshiach)."
Reading about the red heifer expresses our strong belief in the coming of Moshiach, when the Holy Temple will be rebuilt and the tenthred heifer will be offered and we will once again be purified in order for everyJew to offer the Passover lamb (Korban Pesach) to be eaten at the Pesach Seder. May all we merit to be this year in Jerusalem. Amen.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 6:40 / Shabbat ends: 7:44