Since the Torah can only be read in the presence of a minyan (quorum), make sure to go to synagogue in order to hear this special Torah reading.

There is a profound lesson to be learned from the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer. We are taught that those who were in contact with or prepared the holy water and ashes became impure while those upon whom the waters were sprinkled became pure. We can perhaps understand this anomaly by considering whether to reach beyond our comfort zone to do good, while running the risk of likely coming in contact with, and having to consider the consequences of, those negative influences.

To consider the upside of doing so, read this illuminating analysis entitled: “The Paradox of the Red Heifer” from Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald’s Torah message for Chukat 5781-2021, the Torah portion from where the passage for the reading of Parashat Parah is drawn. Out of respect for Shabbat, please consider printing it on Friday afternoon if you plan to read it on Shabbat.