Weekly Dvar Torah: The Purifier Always Remains Pure

A young Rabbi was encouraged by the Rebbe to accept a Rabbinical position in a congregation which was borderline observant, the Rebbe said that he will make a great leader in this community and will lead them to new heights.

The Rabbi, a young man who was only starting a family, visited the Rebbe to discuss this offer, and he asked the Rebbe; how can I be sure that I will be the one influencing my community to grow and that I will not be dragged down by their lower standards?

I am concerned about my children will grow up in an environment that has lower standards than those I would like for my kids to grow into, how will they not be influenced by their neighbors and friends?

The Rebbe responded; we learn about the red heifer, it is called Chuka, a supra-rational Mitzva.
(Mitzvos are divided into three categories: Eidos = testimonials, like Passover, Mishpatim = logical laws, like human relations common-law, Chukkim = supra-rational laws, like the Red heifer.)

Rashi comments that this Mitzva caused the nations to tease the Jews, the idea of the red heifer is confusing, it cleanses the impure, and it contaminates the pure?!

In the process of preparing the red heifer, from slaughtering to burning, and the blending of all the ingredients to make the purifying waters, everybody involved became impure and needed to purify after doing the part.

At the same time the purpose of the purifying waters was to sprinkle the water on those who became impure because of coming in contact with death.

So how could it be that all at once the red heifer contaminates the pure and purifies the impure?

Which one is it, is it a purifier or is it a contaminator?

Pretty perplexing!

Says the Rebbe; what’s so baffling, if someone falls into a mud-pit and gets pulled out of the mud, wouldn’t the rescuer get all muddied up while attempting to cleanse the victim?

Logic dictates that when attempting to cleans others one gets dirty himself, so why is the red heifer any different? When you engage to purify others, some of the impurity will affect you to make you impure!

But here is the catch, when listing all those involved who end up being impure, there is one participant who is not affected, and this is the one who actually sprinkles the purifying waters on the impure.

Everyone who plays any part with the preparation of the red heifer becomes impure, but the one who actually engages the contaminated they are not affected one bit.

This is what’s mystifying!

The Rebbe concluded; the message of the red heifer is clear, the one who gets directly involved with the impure, if it is for the purpose of purifying someone else, this person will never become impure.

When you will go to a community for the purpose of educating and uplifting them, you will never be dragged down, you will always remain on top and pure, and your children will influence others instead of being influenced by the environment around them.

Last week I stood on line for 5 hours to be by the Rebbe, they came from all over, from all communities, to honor the Rebbe for 70 years of work and inspiration to reach out and help elevate Jews wherever they are.

If you go to help elevate others you will never be dragged down!

This is what the Rebbe taught.

Reach out, reach out and pure someone.

Have a purified Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Yosef Katzman