PARASHAT KI TISA

Saturday 2nd March 2023                                     22nd Adar 1 5784

PARASHAT KI TISA

Exodus 30:11-34:35; 1 Kings 18:1-39;

John 9:13-41 

Several months ago, media outlets breathlessly reported the electrifying news that a completely red heifer had been born in Israel. Some of these stories even went on to claim that it was the first time it had happened in two thousand years and was therefore “a bible prophesy realized.” This, of course, led to the natural conclusion that “the end of times is upon us.”

The fact that the news outlets that reported this story were the U.K. tabloid The Mirror and a U.S. equivalent, and that somehow The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Financial Times all missed this earth-shattering news story, should tell you something about the quality and actual newsworthiness of this event.

However, people have a tendency (and for some, a desperation) to look for signs that messianic times are nigh or even upon us. This is particularly true in a period following a national trauma. Sadly, Jewish history is littered with horrors and evils perpetrated by the depraved and therefore this issue has persisted for thousands of years. Still, for some reason, I am astonished when even the smallest of events triggers this outsized reaction.

Like conspiracy theorists, people who interpret unusual events (like the “sudden appearance” of a completely red cow) to be a portent of messianic times are not easily swayed by logical arguments. This is because they choose to believe absurd “realities” and don’t allow themselves to be confused by actual facts.

These people are continually self-indoctrinating through confirmation-bias, which is why it’s next to impossible to convince them otherwise. For those of you still on the fence, I will offer some information for you to mull over.

This incident of the “sudden appearance” of a completely red cow is neither the first time it has happened nor is it in any way a surprise. There is a group known as The Temple Institute that is dedicated to bringing about the rebuilding of the Third Temple. They have a wonderful museum in the Old City of Jerusalem in which they have re-created many of the items discussed in the Torah that were part of the Temple and its daily service.

The Temple Institute has been working on getting a red heifer for over two decades and there are news stories from the late 90’s discussing other red heifers. They even drafted an evangelical Christian rancher from Texas who had naturally red Angus beef cows to deliver several red heifers to Israel.

This obsession is nothing new. When I was in middle school, some forty-five years ago, I remember my teacher informing us of the momentous birth of a completely red heifer born in the Holy Land. My teacher even had 8x10 glossy photos that he passed around the classroom for us to examine. Back then it was also seen a portent of the imminent coming of messianic times.

However, when the undisputed sage of the Jewish people in mid to late 20th century, HaRav Moshe Feinstein, of blessed memory, was told of the messianic mania that this red heifer was inducing he said that, according to Jewish law, it was a mistake to see a red heifer as a portent of messianic times.

Rabbi Feinstein pointed out that according to Jewish Law a red cow had to be at least three or four years old before it was suitable to be used for the service in the Holy Temple (it has to be a “cow” and before that it is still considered a calf – see Maimonides laws of Parah Adumah 1:1).

Yet, it is one of the thirteen principles of faith that the Messiah can arrive at any moment. Since the Almighty may usher in messianic times at any moment it is not possible that the Jewish people would have to wait several years to purify the priestly caste for service in the Holy Temple. Rather, a suitable red heifer will appear as soon as it is needed. So, in essence, there must already be a completely red cow somewhere just waiting to be discovered! Thus, we cannot attribute any real significance to the birth of a red cow; at most, it is merely a curiosity – though it certainly does not have any messianic-era overtones.

Because both the concept of a messiah and the purification stemming from the ashes of a red cow are closely related to this week’s Torah portion, I will continue with these themes. The root of the word “messiah” is derived from the Hebrew word “to anoint” and it is first mentioned in this week’s Torah portion:

“God spoke to Moses saying: ‘Now, take for yourself choice spices […] pure myrrh, fragrant cinnamon […] fragrant cane […] cassia […] and of it you shall make oil of sacred anointment. With it you shall anoint the Tent of Meeting (Tabernacle) and the Ark of the Covenant […]. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and sanctify them to minister to me’” (Exodus 30:22-30).

Sprinkling some of this holy oil on certain objects created for the Tabernacle (Ark, altars, etc.) and on certain individuals, designated them as being set aside for a God-appointed higher function. Throughout the Torah different prophets such as Samuel, Nathan, and Elijah used this oil to anoint the kings of Israel, signifying them as God’s chosen rulers.

In fact, this idea of kings ruling by “Divine Right,” i.e. as a direct emissary of God, has persisted from the Pharaohs to the Babylonian and Persian kings and was even adopted in Medieval Christian Europe – a practice that continues today. Several months ago, King Charles of England was anointed with a special “Chrism Oil” – created using olives harvested from groves on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and perfumed with sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, neroli, benzoin, and amber as well as orange blossom.

In 1953, when Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey in London, the Archbishop of Canterbury dabbed oil on her, in imitation of the prophets of ancient Israel. Following this coronation ceremony, the choir sang “Zaddok the Priest” composed in 1727 by Handel for the coronation of King George II, which opens with the lyrics “Zaddok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anointed Solomon king.” You can’t make this stuff up.

Thus, this concept of a messiah – an “anointed one” who was chosen as the emissary of the Almighty – though it has its roots in Judaism, has been adopted by much of the outside world. According to tradition, the eventual Messiah of the Jewish people will, among other things, bring peace to the world, rebuild the Third Temple, and usher in a society that observes the ancient laws of the Torah (for a detailed job description of the Messiah, see Maimonides Laws of Kings Chapter 12 – he also points out that only if someone fulfills all parts of the job description can one be considered the “true” Messiah).

Because of the promise of peace and salvation during messianic times, tragic events throughout Jewish history spurred messianic fervor. Sadly, in the periods immediately following those terrible events there were huge upswings in messianic expectations, which naturally led to another unfortunate phenomenon: false messiahs who claimed to be the saviors of the Jewish people. Perhaps the most famous of these charlatans was the brilliant and charismatic man known as Shabtai Tzvi.

It is no coincidence that Shabtai Tzvi came on the scene soon after the horrific Kehlmnitski Massacres of 1649-50. This false messiah led many, many communities astray in the latter half of the 17th century, which culminated in his eventual conversion to Islam when the Ottoman Empire had finally had enough of his nonsense.

On a VERY related topic – this week’s Torah portion relates the unfortunate incident of the Golden Calf. For a complete understanding of the circumstances surrounding the sin of the Golden Calf, see this week’s Torah reading Exodus 32:1-35.

 A brief summary:

A mere forty days after committing to receive the Torah on Mount Sinai, the Jewish nation erred in thinking Moses had abandoned them. They were at a loss as to how to interact with God without Moses and they instructed Moses’ brother Aaron to form a Golden Calf that they may use as an intermediary.

Whether or not this was considered actual idol worship is a matter of much discussion among the sages, but this infidelity to their direct relationship with the Almighty was a serious sin. In fact, this sin was as serious as the sin of Adam who ate from the Tree of Knowledge. How do we know this? Because the punishment for both was that man became mortal. When Adam sinned he was cut off from the Almighty and was subject to death (this is what the Torah means when it says, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”Genesis 2:17).

Likewise, when the Jews stood at Mount Sinai, and everyone was healed (this is why medical centers all over the world are named “Mount Sinai”), they were healed spiritually as well, and death left the world. When they sinned by desiring to be disconnected from God and created and worshipped the Golden Calf, death returned to the world (see Talmud Shabbos 146a).

The uncleanliness of death persists and renders one unfit for service in the Holy Temple. Today, everyone has come into contact with someone who has come into contact with a dead person so everyone is considered impure and unfit for service in the Holy Temple.

This is the purpose of the Parah Adumah (“red heifer”) – the ritual of slaughtering it and burning it completely and mixing its ashes with waters from the Gihon spring near Jerusalem is the antidote to the uncleanliness of death in the world. Thus, it is only through the ashes mixed into the water that is sprinkled on the priestly caste that they become fit to serve in the Holy Temple. It is this process of removing the impurity of death that is required for serving in the Holy Temple.

Thus, this week’s Torah portion is connected to all three of these themes (the Messiah, the Red Heifer, and the Golden Calf).

May the Almighty bless His nation and the entire world with the immediate arrival of the Messiah leading to “peace in our time” and the resultant resumption of our connection to the Almighty through the service within the Third and permanent Holy Temple. Amen.