The Red Heifer and the Sanctity of Life

Summary of My Remarks on June 23, 2018

Our portion this morning - Chukat - began with a description of a most unusual ritual. After coming into contact with the dead (meaning even being under the same tent, or walking in a cemetery) a person would need to be purified. The kohen gadol (high priest) would have to slaughter a red heifer (a young cow with all red hair), burn it entirely on the altar, mix the ashes with cedar wood and water, and sprinkle some of that concoction on the impure person. The process made the person pure but at the same time made the kohen impure.
This ritual perplexed the rabbis throughout the ages. It makes no rational sense and through homiletical techniques the rabbis offered some meaning. For example the rabbis suggested that the ritual is reminiscent of the golden calf and perhaps compensates for that grievous communal sin. Or perhaps all the purification rituals could be reflective of events in and out of the Garden of Eden. Of all their attempts at interpretation the rabbis neglect to help us understand an important element - namely, what is the impact of this ritual on the impure person him/herself? How is this ritual supposed to make the person feel spiritually better?
We must understand that death was all pervasive at that time. Not only do we know that we all eventually die, but people came into contact with corpses all the time. People died young, children died young, there were even dead bodies lying in the street. Contact with the dead was unavoidable. If so why this ritual that involves a rare animal? If death was so common why not use a most common animal - like so many of the other sacrifices?
People could react to the ever present death in two ways. They could be so overwhelmed that would never left their homes. They may have stayed inside so that they wouldn't have to confront the awful reality all around them. Or they could have been so immune to the death that they eventually never saw it or paid attention to it. Either way perhaps the use of the most unusual red heifer was meant to teach the sanctity of life. Each life is precious. Each life is as rare as that red heifer. Each life will be treated with sanctity by the high priest himself.  
Though the ritual hasn't been performed since the destruction of the Temple 2,000 years ago the message is still relevant and important today. We can be so overwhelmed by the evil in the world around us that we would be tempted to stay inside and protect ourselves. Or we can be so immune to the all pervasive disregard for human decency and social justice. The recent uproar over the policy of US authorities at the border separating children from their parents is just one of unfortunately many examples of immorality that is rampant in our beloved American society. From gun control, to the rise of antisemitism to the racial divide there are so many ways in which our society in danger of being overtaken by evil. What will we do? How ill we respond?
 The ritual of the red heifer reminds us that every life is precious. Every person is rare and every life must be treated with sanctity and respect. May that inspire us to confront the moral issues of today so that we always strive to see the image of God in every person we meet.

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