Parashat Chukat
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| − | == The Red Haifer == | + | ==The Red Haifer== |
| − | + | Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying about the statute of the Red Haifer, a commandment with no obvious logic or purpose.<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:2">Rashi Bamidbar 19:2</ref> Although this can be mocked by the Satan and the nations of the world, it is a decree from Hashem and no one has the right to challenge it.<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:2"/> The Jews are take a perfectly red cow, lacking even two black hairs,<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:2"/> that is unblemished and upon which no yoke was laid and give it to Moshe. Therefore this first Red Haifer would always be referenced as 'the cow which Moses prepared in the desert'.<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:2"/> | |
| − | Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying about the statute of the Red Haifer, a commandment with no obvious logic or purpose.<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:2">Rashi Bamidbar 19:2</ref> Although this can be mocked by the Satan and the nations of the world, it is a decree from Hashem and no one has the right to challenge it.<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:2"/> The Jews are take a perfectly red cow, lacking even two black hairs,<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:2"/> that is unblemished and upon which no yoke was laid and give it to Moshe. Therefore this first Red Haifer would always be referenced as 'the cow which Moses prepared in the desert'.<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:2"/ | + | |
| + | ===The Burning=== | ||
| + | Moshe is to give it to Elazar the deputy kohen gadol,<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:3">Rashi Bamidbar 19:3</ref> who will take it outside all three camps<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:3"/> where it will be slaughtered by a non-kohen in his presence as he watches.<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:3"/> Elazar will take from its blood with his finger and sprinkle it toward the front of the Ohel Moed seven times. In later generations when this ritual is performed outside the Beis Hamikdash in Yerushalaim the kohen is to east of the city and direct his gaze toward the entrance to the Temple while sprinkling the blood.<ref>Rashi Bamidbar 19:4</ref> The cow will then be burned in front of Elazar; including its hide, flesh, blood and dung. The kohen takes a piece of cedar wood, hyssop and crimson wool which he casts into the fire burning the cow. | ||
| + | Following the burning, the kohen must wash his garments, immerse in a mikva and wait until evening<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:7"/> before entering the camp of the Divine Presence. Even before this the kohen is allowed to enter the Levite Camp beforehand since only a Zav, Baal Keri and someone afflicted with Tzuras is banished from both camps.<ref name="Rashi Bamidbar 19:7">Rashi Bamidbar 19:7</ref> Also the one who burns the cow must wash his clothes in water, immerse in a mikva and remains unclean until evening. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 21:49, 25 June 2015
Parashat-Chukat
The Red Haifer
Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying about the statute of the Red Haifer, a commandment with no obvious logic or purpose.[1] Although this can be mocked by the Satan and the nations of the world, it is a decree from Hashem and no one has the right to challenge it.[1] The Jews are take a perfectly red cow, lacking even two black hairs,[1] that is unblemished and upon which no yoke was laid and give it to Moshe. Therefore this first Red Haifer would always be referenced as 'the cow which Moses prepared in the desert'.[1]
The Burning
Moshe is to give it to Elazar the deputy kohen gadol,[2] who will take it outside all three camps[2] where it will be slaughtered by a non-kohen in his presence as he watches.[2] Elazar will take from its blood with his finger and sprinkle it toward the front of the Ohel Moed seven times. In later generations when this ritual is performed outside the Beis Hamikdash in Yerushalaim the kohen is to east of the city and direct his gaze toward the entrance to the Temple while sprinkling the blood.[3] The cow will then be burned in front of Elazar; including its hide, flesh, blood and dung. The kohen takes a piece of cedar wood, hyssop and crimson wool which he casts into the fire burning the cow.
Following the burning, the kohen must wash his garments, immerse in a mikva and wait until evening[4] before entering the camp of the Divine Presence. Even before this the kohen is allowed to enter the Levite Camp beforehand since only a Zav, Baal Keri and someone afflicted with Tzuras is banished from both camps.[4] Also the one who burns the cow must wash his clothes in water, immerse in a mikva and remains unclean until evening.
References
- ^ a b c d Rashi Bamidbar 19:2
- ^ a b c Rashi Bamidbar 19:3
- ^ Rashi Bamidbar 19:4
- ^ a b Rashi Bamidbar 19:7
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