And I Will Give You a New Heart: Reading Parshat Parah

In addition to the weekly Torah portion, this Shabbat we will also read the portion of the 'Red Heifer' (Parah Adumah). This is because on the Shabbat before Parshat HaChodesh, close to the month of Nisan, we add this special reading to the Torah service. The reason for this is that shortly before the month of Nisan, immediately after the establishment of the Tabernacle, the Children of Israel fulfilled the commandment of burning the red heifer in order to sprinkle its ashes on the people and purify them, thereby enabling them to fulfill the Passover offering at its appointed time. Therefore, we place Parshat Parah before Parshat HaChodesh.

The Connection Between the Heifer and the Messiah

Our Sages taught that nine red heifers were prepared from the time Israel was commanded in this mitzvah until the destruction of the Second Temple. The first was prepared by Moses, the second by Ezra the Scribe, and from then until the destruction, seven more were prepared. When the righteous Messiah comes speedily in our days, he will prepare the tenth red heifer.

The Red Heifer and Its Laws

The Sages were extremely particular about the procedure of the red heifer. Seven days before its burning, they would sanctify the priest who was designated to burn it, and they would sprinkle him with ashes from previous heifers. This was done by a person who had never been defiled by contact with the dead. How did they find people who had never been defiled by a dead body?

Special houses were built in Jerusalem, constructed on hollow rock formations, where women would come to give birth and raise their children without leaving, so they would not become defiled in any way. When these children left these houses, they were transported on doors placed on the backs of oxen (to prevent any connection with the ground) to the Shiloach stream, from which they drew pure water. Afterward, they were transported on these same doors to the Temple Mount, which was certainly free of any graves. In this way, they prevented any defilement from reaching them until they came to sprinkle water on the priest chosen to burn the red heifer.

Is Reading Parshat Parah Today a Torah Obligation?

The authorities disagree on whether reading Parshat Parah is a Torah obligation. The Shulchan Aruch (Sections 146 and 685) indicates that it is from the Torah, citing the Tosafot in Tractate Berachot (13a) who wrote as such.

According to many authorities, it is a positive commandment from the Torah, and although some disagree with this, it is proper to be stringent in accordance with those who say it is from the Torah. Therefore, one should pay attention to the following details:

a. One should be careful to read Parshat Parah from the most kosher and meticulous Torah scroll available in the synagogue; b. The prayer leader and congregation should have in mind to fulfill their Torah obligation; c. It is proper and correct for women to come to the women's section during Parshat Parah to hear this reading, as it is also a Torah obligation for them, and women are included in the purification process to be able to eat from the Passover offering (Yalkut Yosef Purim, 2012 edition).

Reason for Those Who Hold That Parshat Parah is from the Torah

In Yalkut HaGershuni (Orach Chaim Section 685), a reason is given for why Parshat Parah is considered a Torah obligation: we are commanded by the Torah to remember the sin of the Golden Calf, as it is written, "Remember how you provoked...". However, the Magen Avraham (Section 60:2) wrote that they did not establish a public reading of the Golden Calf incident because it would be embarrassing for Israel. Therefore, they established the reading of Parshat Parah, which serves as atonement for the Golden Calf without embarrassing Israel, thereby fulfilling the remembrance of the Golden Calf incident.

This Week's Haftarah and Its Meaning

After reading Parshat Parah, the Shulchan Aruch (685:3) states that we read from the prophet Ezekiel chapter 36, "Son of man, the house of Israel dwells in their land," because it contains the verse "And I will sprinkle clean water upon you". Although this Haftarah does not discuss purification from ritual impurity at all, but rather purification from sins and iniquities, as it says, "And I will sprinkle upon you... and from all your idols I will cleanse you, and I will give you a new heart."

Rabbi Shai Amar is a rabbi in the Halacha department of Hidabroot

Questions for the rabbi: 054-8448909