Numbers 19:1-2 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.
3 WEEK DIARY: WORK OF THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE: THE RED HEIFER
The three weeks of intensified focus and adoption of customs of mourning over the destruction of the two Holy Temples in Jerusalem have ended. But our recap of all the work the Temple Institute is involved with the one aim of rebuilding the Holy Temple and renewing the Divine service is far from exhausted.
Our longtime supporters are certainly aware that the Institute’s efforts to raise or discover a red heifer suitable for the purpose of achieving the ashes of the red heifer go back more than two decades. We have forged deep connections with cattle growers in the United States, both professionally and personally. We have worked with cattle growers in Israel. We have raised red heifer candidates here in Israel and flown over red heifer candidates from Texas. The halachot concerning the eligibility of a potential red heifer are very strict and unfortunately all our efforts so far have been frustrated by the appearance of more than one non-red hair on all our potential candidates. Nevertheless, our efforts continue.
Attaining a suitable red heifer, however, is only one aspect of the work of achieving the longed for purifying ashes. Once a viable red heifer has been achieved it needs to be slaughtered and burned into ashes. Simply to create a fire that will burn at a temperature capable of converting the heifer into ashes is a task that has required much research and experimentation.
Kohanim who are free of the impurity of tamei met must be located, for only kohanim enjoying such a status can be involved in creating the ashes. This requires kohanim who were home-birthed and have never stepped inside a hospital or cemetery, where the impurity of tamei met is a given. The Institute has successfully located and brought on board eligible kohanim.
Pure waters from the Shiloach spring located at the foot of the City of David must be collected and cedar wood, hyssop and wool dyed red with the tola’at shani insect must also be acquired and added to the ashes. Fortunately all these elements are readily attainable.
The actual burning of the heifer must take place on the Mount of Olives at a vantage point from which the kohen performing the ceremony can see into the great entrance of the Temple Sanctuary, (or, at least where it stood).
All throughout the Institute’s continuing efforts, tremendous research has formed the basis for every step forward we have taken. Rabbi Azarya arial of the Temple Institute has devoted years of his life researching and overseeing all these aspects.
Recently a groundbreaking test run was taken using a disqualified heifer. The experience better prepares us for the ultimate performance of the ceremony with a kosher heifer.
We all know that acquiring the purifying ashes of the red heifer will be a major and indisputable step forward toward building the Mikdash and renewing the offerings. For this very reason there are many opposed to our efforts among the enemies of Israel, and to our regret, even within the people of Israel. For this reason we keep a tight lid on our efforts and generally do not advertise our successes.
Due to our reluctance to advertise and also due to our lack of success in acquiring a viable red heifer candidate despite all our efforts, some of our supporters have expressed their frustration. After all, there are many red haired breeds of cattle in the world and, no doubt many thousands of potential red heifers born each year. No doubt if the Temple Institute enjoyed a much larger budget we could expand our efforts and potentially acquire a red heifer sooner, rather than later. But just as the chok – the statute – of the red heifer is considered to be a great test of our faith in and fidelity to HaShem’s word, we must also maintain the faith and trust that a suitable red heifer will be found when G-d sees fit. Meanwhile, our efforts continue, full steam ahead.
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Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
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Nahum 1:8 But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
Nahum 2:6 The gates of the rivers are opened and the palace is dissolved.
The book was written around 660 BC. Nineveh is the city and people in focus in the Book of Jonah. Nineveh was once the largest city in the known world. Today in the early 21st century Ninevah or modern day Mosul, Iraq is home to 1.3 to 1.5 million people per Wikipedia and the United Nations.
The Tigris River valley below the Mosul Dam is home to approximately 150 million people.
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