Red Cow, Red Blood, Red Dye: Staring Death & Life in the Face

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:33:53 -0400

Red Cow, Red Blood, Red Dye:
Staring Death & Life in the Face

By Rabbi Arthur Waskow and Rabbi Phyllis Berman*

The Torah-portion Hukkat (Num. 19 through 21) calls our attention to what looks at first like paradox.

Literally "looks," for the paradoxes appear before the eyes.

First we are told that in order to restore to the community those who have become tamei by contact with death, a red heifer is slaughtered and burned in red fire with red wood and red dye in a great cloud of red smoke for / before the eyes of the priest (Num. 19: 5).

Hukkat commentary, by Michael Graetz

Sat, 08 Sep 2001 21:46:40 -0400

Rabbi Michael Graetz

Hukkat
Rabbi Michael Graetz
From Pinah Masortit #135a (vol. 3) MASORTI@JTSA.EDU (Masorti: Torah and News from the Masorti Movement in Israel)
Masorti Movement
Rabbinical Assembly of Israel
4 Rav Ashi Street,

The Shalom Center - 39. HUKKAT

Red Cow, Red Blood, Red Dye: Staring Death & Life in the Face