THE WEEKLY PARSHA

PARSHAT PARAH

(Taken from a weekly publication of Hammaayan Institutes.
Translated by Rabbi Shabtai Teicher)

Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai said to his disciples, "On my oath: it is not a dead body which causes spiritual defilement, and it is not water which purifies; but G-d said, `I have enacted a law and I have decreed a decree, and you do not have the right to transgress My decree.' That is what is written, `This is the law of the Torah...' (Numbers 19:2)."

It is well known that the concept of "chok" signifies those statutes whose logic and exact reason for their ordination is beyond human intelligence. Concerning this, King Solomon, may he rest in peace, said, "I said that I will become wise, but it was far away from me" (Ecclesiastes 7:23). In other words, it is impossible to understand how the red heifer purifies. Not only is the way these laws work unknown to us, but there is also no one, single, exact reason to totally explain why they were ordained.

Nevertheless, the concept of spiritual purity, and the concept of kedushah (holiness) which comes in the wake of purity, are still applicable to some extent in our times. Anyone who has merited to fulfill somewhat the laws of purity knows that effects consequent to living according to those laws can be felt through the senses in our everyday lives, and even in these generations. Furthermore, we can learn things from the manner that these laws manifest in our world.

Consider the example of a person who immerses in a mikvah. The mikvah is composed of rainwater or springwater. It symbolizes purity. It has not been handled by human hands whatsoever. He immerses his entire body in the water of the mikvah, with the stipulation that there is no interposition between his body and the water. We can see in this image a symbol of a person who is erasing the sins of his past by merging back into the source and root of his being.

Both "tuma" (spiritual defilement) and sin are external to the essence and soul of a Jew whose inner being is entirely adherent to G-d. His immersion in the water of the mikvah wipes away the "tuma" which has externally attached itself to him. On the symbolic level, the sin separated between G-d and the essence of a Jew which wants to do the Will of G-d always. Immersion in the water symbolizes wiping this interference away.

However, it could be that the "tuma" is greater than mere external attachment. In that case immersion in the mikvah is not enough, and an act which is the exact opposite of normal logic needs to be employed. A red heifer is sacrificed and burned, and the ashes are placed in water. The one who performed these actions necessarily had to be spiritually pure when he did them, but as soon as he completes these actions he becomes spiritually defiled. On the other hand, the product of his actions, the ashes mixed in water, purify those who have incurred severe spiritual defilement.

This incomprehensible act which defies normal logic in itself symbolizes nullification of a person's egoism and sense of mastery. If he thought that with his great mind he had mastered and understood everything, this mitzvah proves that "I said that I would become wise, but it was far away from me."

The word for "I" in Hebrew is "ani" whose numerical value (gematria) is 61, the same as the gematria of the word "tuma" (spiritual defilement). This is an indication that wiping away "tuma" symbolizes nullification of egoism. Indeed, the people of Israel merited to the mitzvah of the ashes of the red heifer when our patriarch Avraham said, "...I am dust and ashes" (Genesis 18:27). This nullification of the ego's pride is the essence of the concept of purity, and it is the proper preparation for the month of Nissan and the celebration of Redemption.

Furthermore, concerning the verse, "...G-d saves man and animals" (Psalms 36:7), Chazal have said that it is talking about the righteous tzadikim. They have worked on themselves and perfected themselves. They are wise, their intelligence is expanded, and they are capable of great wiliness. Nevertheless, they have made themselves like dumb animals in respect to doing the Will of G-d. Having cleansed themselves of egoistic pride they have ascertained the level of purity, and kedushah will come in its wake.