Beyond Comprehension
plete purity.
The Mitzvah of Parah Adumah
By Rav Moshe Shternbuch
The following was writ-
ten by Rabbi Daniel Ya
akov Travis based on a
drasha given by Rav Mo
she Shternbuch, Rosh Av
Beis Din of the Eidah Ha
chareidis of Yerushalayim.
•••••
DEEPER MEANING
“‘This is the chok [statute] of the To-
rah.’ The nations of the world come to the
Jewish People saying, ‘What is this
mitzvah of parah adumah? What is the
reason for it?’ Therefore, the Torah writes,
‘This is the chok of the Torah.’ You have
no right to give a reason for it’’ (Rashi,
Bamidbar 19:2).
Rashi’s words are baffling. He starts
off by explaining that one may not seek
explanations for the parah adumah, yet
he concludes the perek (19:22) by quot-
ing Rav Moshe Hadarshan, who offers a
reason for this mitzvah. How can we un-
derstand this apparent contradiction?
Although the Rambam, the Sefer
Hachinuch and other Rishonim seek to ex-
plain the significance of each of the mitzvos,
in truth the reasons are way beyond our com-
prehension. These great chachomim were
merely offering us a glimpse of insight into
the Torah’s commandments. Only after un-
conditionally accepting our obligation to
fulfill all the mitzvos may we explore the
“reasons” for any given mitzvah.
This simple acceptance of Hashem’s
Torah is epitomized by the parah adumah.
After accepting the fundamental teaching
of the parah adumah, that the true rea-
sons for the mitzvos are beyond our com-
prehension, we are then permitted to make
drashos to try and reach a deeper under-
standing. Even after the explanation, it
remains clear to us that the real reasons
are still unknown to us.
The nations of the world believe that they
should be able to grasp the logic behind any
concept, and therefore demand the reason for
the mitzvah. When they ask, we must answer,
“This is the chok of the Torah.” Since they
are unwilling to subjugate their intellect to
their Creator, we are forbidden to reveal rea-
sons to them, for if the reasons do not satisfy
their limited powers of logic, they will de-
duce that the mitzvah is unreasonable.
ACCEPTING LIMITATIONS
The Vilna Gaon compared this concept
to looking at a globe and seeing that one
tiny dot represents an entire country. Simi-
larly, every mitzvah we do has unfathom-
able ramifications in the Upper Heavens,
with infinite reward awaiting those who
perform it faithfully. So too, each trans-
gression causes untold damage to the spiri-
tual worlds, and every effort must be made
to avoid even the slightest transgression.
In tefillah, we say, “Ein K’Elokeinu -
No one is like the Almighty.” Immediately
afterwards, we say, “Mi K’Elokeinu - Who
is like the Almighty?” If we have already
declared that there is no one like the Al-
mighty, why do we then ask who is like
the Almighty?
The answer is clear. First we accept that
there is no one like the Almighty and that
our intellect cannot grasp His greatness.
Afterwards, we may pursue this concept
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fill the Torah, can come to a level of com-
further and seek a glimmer of understand-
ing about the nature of Hashem.
This is the deeper meaning behind our
Only a person who is moser nefesh, who
exerts himself to fulfill the Torah, can come
to a level of complete purity.
proclamation at Har Sinai of “Na’aseh
venishamh.” First we declared “na’aseh,” we
will do even if we do not understand. After-
wards, we said nishmah, we will try to un-
derstand the Torah to the best of our ability.
Professors and philosophers cling to
the belief that their minds are capable of
grasping all wisdom. They spend their
lives asking deep questions, in order to
show that they are working towards com-
plete understanding. Their intellectual
probing eventually leads their students to
deny the existence of a Creator.
Klal Yisrael knows better.
Animals were given a certain amount
of intellect. They instinctively know every-
thing needed to survive in their environ-
ment and avoid danger. Man was also given
a mind as a tool to navigate the challenges
of life in this world. But its purpose is not
to understand the ways of Heaven. For this,
we need the emunah that His thoughts are
much deeper than ours.” Parah adumah
teaches us the fundamental concept that all
of the Torah is a chok, and this emunah is
the secret of the survival of the Jews
throughout the generations.
A COW FOR A COW
Rashi explains the reason for the choice
of a cow for the mitzvah of parah adumah.
Klal Yisrael sinned with the cheit ha’eigel.
In order to atone for this transgression
measure for measure, the Almighty gave
us the mitzvah of parah adumah.
Rav Eliyahu Lopian offers a beautiful
explanation for this concept. The posuk in
Yeshaya say, “The Almighty will clean away
the filth of Tzion.” When a baby dirties his
diaper, the smell is repulsive to those around
him. Yet the baby’s own parents readily and
lovingly clean their child. So too, when the
Jewish people transgress, it is revolting to
the malachim and they are unwilling to aid
in the process of purifying Klal Yisroel. Only
the Almighty, our Father in Heaven, is will-
ing to clean up the mess Himself. For this
reason, He gave us the parah adumah, as a
loving gesture to help us clean up the mess
we made with the chet ha’eigel.
EFFORT AND REWARD
Finding a parah adumah is no easy
task; even two black or white hairs dis-
qualify the parah. Because of its rarity,
purchasing one could cost thousands of
gold coins. This alludes to the great
mesiras nefesh and dedication required to
purify oneself.
Guarding the mitzvos of the Torah re-
quires effort on our part. Someone who
gets out of bed whenever they feel like it,
thereby missing minyan in shul, and learns
Torah only when it conveniently fits into
his schedule, is missing a crucial aspect
of Divine service. Only a person who is
moser nefesh, who exerts himself to ful-
YATED NE’EMAN
The Gemara in Maseches Kiddushin re-
counts the story of a famous non-Jew, Dama
ben Nesina. Chazal came to purchase pre-
cious stones from him which they needed
for the Eifod of the Kohen Gadol. The keys
to the cabinet where they were stored were
underneath his father’s pillow, but Dama ben
Nesina dared not wake him up to get them.
He chose to miss out on earning riches
through the sale so as to avoid disturbing
his father. In the merit of his fulfillment of
the mitzvah of honoring his father, Dama
was rewarded generously. The next year, a
parah adumah was born to him. Chazal paid
him thousands of gold coins in order to pur-
chase the parah.
The Chiddushei Harim explains the
deeper meaning of this Gemara. After such
Protest in Yerushalayim
By Rav Moshe Shternbuch
The following was written by Rabbi
Daniel Yaakov Travis based on a drasha
given by Rav Moshe Shternbuch, Rosh Av
Beis Din of the Eidah Hachareidis of
Yerushalayim, on 3 Tammuz in Geulah,
Yerushalayim.
•••••
We have come here today to publicly
sanctify Hashem’s name, and to protest
the desecration of the Almighty’s honor.
In the parsha of arayos, the Torah re-
lates that Hashem cannot bear this impurity.
Especially in Eretz Yisroel, anyone who
transgresses this prohibition will literally be
spat out from the land. Such behavior
enflames Divine wrath, and we can not even
speak about what can transpire as a result.
In recent weeks, the newspapers have
been filled with articles describing the great
threat that Eretz Yisroel faces from Iran and
the other countries surrounding Artzeinu
Hakedosha. The whole world should know
that Iran does not present any danger to us!
Hashem is Shomer Yisroel; He protects the
Jewish people and we have nothing to fear.
What should really arouse our fear is
learning the Torah’s parsha of tochacha.
When we see what enflaming the
Almighty’s anger can cause, a great trepi-
dation should overtake us. During the
Holocaust, we saw devastation before our
eyes, and gedolei Yisroel attributed this to
the lack of protest to the transgressions
that were taking place around us.
Standing by silently while abominations
take place around us can cause us to be in-
cluded in the punishment for these acts. The
Gemara in Nedarim says that someone who
hears a bracha levatala and does not put the
person in nidui is also in nidii for his silence.
What we are experiencing today is a much
more serious transgression.
In Parshas Pinchos, Klal Yisroel’s ac-
tions aroused great Divine fury. Pinchos
stood up and protected the Almighty’s
honor. When Pinchos defended Hashem’s
honor, an even greater punishment was
averted.
The new mayor of Yerushalayim wants
to uproot any vestiges of kedusha from
an act of dedication to his father, the Jewish
people were challenged in the heavens why
they were not moser nefesh for mitzvos like
this non-Jew. The Almighty gave the Jew-
ish people an opportunity to prove their com-
mitment, by paying a small fortune to pur-
chase a parah adumah to fulfill a mitzvah
with no apparent reason.
“‘This is the chok of the Torah,’ I have
made My decree, and established My stat-
ute, and you have no right to question it.”
Herein the Almighty lays down a funda-
mental principle of the Torah: His ways
are far beyond us and only by accepting
His absolute sovereignty can we succeed
in serving Him.
May it be His will that His honor
should be revealed speedily in our days.
•••••
Rabbi Travis is a rosh kollel of Kollel
Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim, and is the
author of Shaylos U’Teshuvos Toras
Chaim and “Praying With Joy - A Daily
Tefilla Companion,” a practical daily
guide to improving one’s prayers, avail-
able from Feldheim Publishers. For more
information about his work, contact
dytravis@actcom.com.
the city. Until now, they made their pa-
rade in an outer corner of the city inside
an auditorium, and now he gives free reign
to the highest form of abomination. He
wants to contaminate the holy city of
Yerushalayim and make it like any other
city in the world.
When we make a macha’ah and protest
what is taking place, we are doing what we
can to show that we having nothing to do
with this abomination. We turn to the Al-
mighty saying, “We have done what we can
and hope that You will respond.”
Some argued that we should not make
any protest, for negative ramifications
could come about from it. Such calcula-
tions are not in place while such a dis-
grace is taking place around us. We can-
not let this stop us from defending
Hashem’s honor!
The Torah instructs us to set up shoftim
veshotrim, police and guards, during the
Yomim Tovim. Shoftim are to ensure that there
is no immorality during this time. However,
this is not sufficient. We also need shotrim to
strengthen the kedusha so that we should be
able to stand up to the challenges that we are
presented with during this time.
How hard the Soton will try to thwart
us from making a protest against these
abominations that are taking place. Our
macha’ah is very dear in the Almighty’s
eyes, for we are here solely to defend His
honor. Our actions envelop us with
kedusha and can hold back the Divine fury
that such actions stir up.
Lest one think that they should ignore
these actions and they will not affect us,
this is a grave error. Tumah is very strong
and can even enter through closed doors
and windows. We must do what we can
and the Almighty will finish.
We are in the final epoch before the
coming of Moshiach and the challenges
we face are very great, especially those
connected to Eretz Yisroel. During these
auspicious times, we must make extra ef-
forts to protect tznius in all areas, espe-
cially in regards to clothing and
shaitelach. When the Almighty sees all of
our efforts, He will surely hasten the time
for the final redemption.
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