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This Shabbat we read Parashat Tzav, the second portion in the book of Leviticus, which describes many of the sacrifices that were offered by the Priests to God in the ancient Tabernacle.
In addition, we are also observing Shabbat Parah. This is the Shabbat which comes the week before we announce the arrival of the upcoming month of Nisan - the month during which we will celebrate the great festival of Pesach. For the occasion of Shabbat Parah we read a special portion of the Torah which is found in the book of Numbers, chapter 19, verses 1-22.
This section of the Torah introduces the paradoxical concept of the red heifer, or cow. The children of Israel are instructed to slaughter a completely red cow - one without blemish - and to utilize its ashes for the ceremonial process of purifying one who has become ritually contaminated via contact with a corpse or dead body. These ashes alone will be able to provide that purification.
The reason why we may call this procedure paradoxical is that the one who prepares these ashes for purification takes on the status himself of becoming impure or contaminated. That is, while the one who is impure becomes purified through these ashes, the one who enables this process now takes on an impure status and has to undergo another, distinct ordeal in order to return to a state of decontamination.
This entire situation may sound rather confusing. Indeed, it is considered by the rabbis to be a classic example of a Jewish law which is beyond our human comprehension. While the meanings behind many of our laws and rituals may be understood and cherished, this is not always the case.
Sometimes, we cannot understand what life has to offer. In these times, often under exceedingly difficult circumstances, we are left with no choice other than to take a leap of faith; to search for a way to find meaning in life, and meaning in our Jewish practices, even when it may be obscured or even impossible to find.
Life is not always easy and does not always make much to us from our human perspective. Sometimes holding on to faith and hope, even when we face incomprehensible situations, is our only human recourse.
Shabbat Shalom.
Cantor Zachary Konigsberg
cantorzkonigsberg@gmail.com
917-696-0749
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