Loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L
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The Red Heifer
G-d informs Moshe and Aaron regarding the rules of the “red heifer” which they are to relate to the Israelites.
The rules of the red heifer are illogical in that the same ashes which purify one person, render the one who is purifying them impure (see details further on). Thus the prosecuting angel (otherwise known as the Satan) as well as the nations of the world would challenge the Israelites asking what the reason was for it.
For this reason, G-d states at the beginning of this parsha that it is a “statute” (חוק in Hebrew), meaning it is not something which we are meant to question.
This law is forever to be associated with Moshe, as any future ashes of red heifers would have some of the ashes from this original cow mixed into it. .
The rules regarding it are as follows:
They are to take an unblemished and never been yoked cow whose hair is completely red (if it has even two black hairs, it is disqualified) and give it to Elazar, the second in command to the Kohen Gadol. He is the one who is to perform this ceremony*.
*Side note: There is a debate in Yoma 42b regarding future red heifers. Some say that their ceremony needed to be performed under the supervision of the Kohen Gadol and some say it could be performed by any Kohen.
Elazar is to take this cow and bring it outside all three of the camps (i.e that of the Shechina, the Levites and the Israelites) where someone else (who does not have to be a Kohen) is to slaughter it as Elazar watches.
Elazar is then to take some of the blood of this cow with his forefinger and sprinkle it towards the front of the Ohel Moed seven times while standing facing the entrance to the Mishkan (in the Temple this would mean he would be facing the east of Jerusalem).
Someone is then to burn the flesh, blood and waste of cow in front of him.
Elazar is then to take cedar wood, hyossop and a crimson tongue of wood and add them to the fire that the cow is burning in.
Elazar the Kohen as well as the person who performed the burning are to immerse their clothing and themselves in the mikva after which they remain impure until evening. Once they are pure, they may re-enter the camp of the Shechina (this is the only camp they would have been banished from, only a zav, ba’al keri or metzora would be banished from all three camps).
A ritually pure man must then gather the ash of the cow and divide it into three parts.
The first he is to place on the Mount of Olives, for the High Priests to use when they need to be purified before performing the red heifer ceremony.
The second is to be divided amongst the 24 watches (which the Kohanim were divided into, with one watch officiating in the Temple per week). This was for all the townsfolk and anyone who needed to use it.
The third was placed in the Chail, an area immediately outside of the wall of the Courtyard of the Temple.
These ashes were to be placed in a pure area and were not allowed to be used for personal benefit.
This person who gathers the ash must immerse his clothing after and remains impure until the evening.
These laws regarding the red heifer are eternally binding for all Jews.
Contact with a Human Corpse
Anyone who touches a human corpse must purify himself with these ashes on the third day and then will become pure on the seventh day. However if he does not purify himself on the third day, he will not become pure on the seventh day.
Anyone who touches a human corpse and does not purify himself, makes the Mishkan or Temple impure and is to be excommunicated from the Israelites, even if he immersed in the mikva before entering the Mishkan or Temple area.
If a person dies in a tent, anyone who enters the tent while the corpse is still there will become impure for seven days.
An earthenware vessel does not receive impurity from its outside surfaces but rather from the inside. Thus it must be covered well, with a close fit. If it is not, it is rendered impure.
If a person touches a human corpse (whether he had been killed or not), a human bone or a grave in an open field will be rendered impure for seven days. This includes coming into contact with the lid or side wall of a coffin that is not contained within a tent.
To purify such a person, some of these ashes should be mixed with spring water in a vessel.
Chukas, 1st Aliya