Parah

Overview

Parshas Parah is the third of the four special parshiyos, read on the Shabbos after Purim in preparation for Pesach. It describes the parah adumah, the red heifer whose ashes purify a person from the tumah of contact with the dead — the classic chok, a decree whose reason lies above human reason. Read before Nissan so that Israel would be pure to bring the Pesach offering, its themes are purification through bittul, the cleansing power of Torah, and the ascent from impurity to a renewed holiness that readies the soul for the season of redemption.

Themes

• Purification through bittul
• Chukim above reason
• Purity before the Nissan renewal
• Torah's purifying power
• The inner point of 'zos'
• Holiness and purity, two paths

Must-read teachings

1. 1Four parshiyos as spiritual ascent to purityThe mitzvah of terumas hadeshen (removing the ashes): that through the burning of evil thoughts, as it is written, "it is the olah" — [read as] a thought that "rises up" — an evil thought, see there in the Zohar. The Sefas Emes reads the of…תרל"ח
2. 2Holiness and purity as two paths of avodahOn the pasuk, "However, My Shabbosos you shall keep" (Shemos 31:13). The Sefas Emes opens with the verse that warns to guard Shabbos, even amid the building of the Mishkan. And it is difficult, for it was already written, "Remember [the Sha…תרל"ד
3. 3Elevating the inner essence through truth"On its flame... until the morning" (Vayikra 6:2). The Sefas Emes opens with the pasuk describing the fire on the Mizbeach burning through the night until morning, which he will read as an inner avodah. In the Zohar HaKadosh: an evil though…תרל"ב
4. 4Chukim Above Reason Bring Purity And UnityConcerning the purification of the parah (the Red Heifer), which they established to be read on Shabbos: because the neshamah is pure, as it is said, "The soul that You placed within me is pure" (from the morning blessings). The Sefas Emes …תרנ"ו
5. 5Torah's purifying power renewed each ShabbosThe verse "and He gave to Moshe" (Shemos 31:18) is placed next to the parsha of Shabbos, in accordance with what is said, that on Shabbos one should make it "all Torah" — for so it is written, "and on the seventh day He ceased and rested" (…תרנ"ט
6. 6The inner point of "zos" and bittul of the parahIn the Midrash: "Who can produce a pure thing from an impure one? Is it not the Only One of the world?" (Bamidbar Rabbah 19:1). Only Hashem, the absolute Oneness of the world, can draw purity out of impurity — a power that lies behind the m…תרל"א
7. 7Purity through the soul's living waters"Living waters into a vessel" (cf. Bamidbar 19:17). The Sefas Emes begins with the phrase from the parah adumah (red heifer) procedure, where spring water — "living waters" — is placed into a vessel together with the ashes. He will read the…תרס"ד
8. 8Purity refined through exile and trialAnd in the Midrash on Chukas: "Who can bring a pure thing out of an impure one?" (Iyov 14:4) The Midrash asks how purity can ever emerge from impurity — the very paradox at the heart of the parah adumah (red heifer) and of spiritual growth.…תרמ"ז