The Haftorah for Parshat Parah

After the Future Redemption, Hashem will Purify Bnai Yisrael

The Haftorah is read from the book of Yechezkel (Ezekiel), 36:16-38

The connection of the Haftorah to Parshat Parah: This Shabbat is 3rd of the 4 special Shabbatot before Pesach. (Shekalim, Zechor, Parah, Hachodesh). We read a special passage from the Torah referring to the Parah Adumah, Red Heifer. It tells us about the process of cleansing oneself from the impurity absorbed when touching a dead body.

When the Holy Temple was standing, all Jews that were ritually impure cleansed themselves during this time of year, to become ritually pure in time for Passover. This enabled them to offer the Passover sacrifice. Similarly, the Haftorah describes how after the arrival of the Messiah and the rebuilding of the third and final Beit Hamikdash, (Holy Temple) Hashem will purify Bnei Yisrael forever by spiritually “sprinkling upon Bnai Yisrael the purifying waters”.

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The Parah Adumah, Red Heifer: A mysterious significance surrounds the Red Heifer: It would purify the impure and render the pure impure. The Parah Adumah, a female perfectly red cow, was slaughtered and burned to make ashes for purifying persons and objects, from pollution by human corpses. The laws of the Red Cow are found among the Laws of the Kohanim, Priests. The Israelites had to provide a perfect unblemished red female cow that had not been agriculturally worked.

The storyline of this week’s Haftorah: The reasons for Bnai Yisrael’s exile: Because of their sins of defiling the Land and the Nation of Israel, the Jews were sent into exile. The Jews were guilty of idol worshipping, bloodshed and adultery. All three led to the Jews being sent into exile. After Bnai Yisrael was exiled, Hashem gave Ezekiel a prophecy that would give hope to the Jews.

The reason for the Jews being able to return to Israel after 70 years of exile was, NOT that the Jews had repented and earned the right of returning. Rather, Hashem did not want the enemies of Israel to say, “We succeeded in wiping out Hashem’s nation, the Israelites”. The future spiritual renaissance will begin by Hashem purifying Bnai Yisrael.

Hashem will remove their Yetzer Harah, evil urge, from their hearts and give them “new” hearts with a pure spirit. Hashem will change us from having “hearts of stone” to “hearts of flesh”. These hearts will enable you to embrace observing the part of the Torah called the “Chukim” (Laws with no logical reasons). That was given to us. Ezekiel promises that in the future, prophecy will return to Bnai Yisrael.

Ezekiel experiences a prophecy about future material blessings. Ezekiel predicts that the Jews, who are Hashem’s “chosen people”, will live safely in the Land of Israel, permanently. They will believe in Hashem and keep his mitzvot. Hashem promises to help and save the Jewish people; Hashem will put Israel’s former impurities behind them. Then Hashem will bless the produce of Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel) with abundance.

Ezekiel’s prophecy explains that we will never have to worry about having to leave our homeland again. We will not have to go elsewhere to get food for ourselves, like Abraham and Jacob. Once again, Hashem reminds the Jews that they are not actually deserving of his kindness; they are just beneficiaries of his mercy. Hashem will cause the Jews to multiply abundantly. As in the days of King Solomon’s temple where there were innumerable sacrifices of sheep during the Holidays, so will Hashem bless Bnai Yisrael with innumerable children.

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The Hebrew inscription on the wall of Ezekiel's burial chamber reads: "This monument is the burial monument of our master Ezekiel, the prophet son of Buzi, the priest, may his virtue defend us and all Israel Amen”

Yechezkel ben Buzi’s Biography:

• The meaning of his name is “Hashem will strengthen.”

• Was a Kohen, born in the village of Anatot surrounding Jerusalem. His wife died suddenly before his prophecies began.

• He prophesied just before the destruction of Jerusalem on Tishah Be’av (The 9th of Av). He was exiled in 597 B.C.E. Some of his visions were while he was in exile. He was a major prophet that recorded the warnings to the Jewish captives of Babylon. He was among 8000 exiles taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon soldiers.

• He died in Bavel.

• He saw the divine vision of the Ma’aseh Hamerkavah (Hashem’s Throne).

• He was the only person in the Tanach (Bible) to be called "Ben Adam”, Son of Man.

• Yechezkel wrote his own 48 chapter book; his prophetic ministry lasted 20 years.

• Was one of three prophets granted the key to resurrection of the dead. (The others were Eliyahu and Elisha)

Famous phrases: Ezekiel, 3:12. “Vatesaeni ruach va’eshma kol raash Gadol”. “And a spirit lifted me and I heard a great sound”, of the angels praising Hashem (G-d). Found in the prayer of “Uvah Letzion Goel”, the Redeemer (Hashem, G-d) will come to Mt. Zion. Haftorahman’s

Lesson of the week: The Mitzvah of the Parah Adumah commemorated the practice of purification observed by the Jewish people in the ancient days. At the same time it impresses upon us the need for moral purification, the theme of the Haftorah for Parshat Parah. It is the time for us to decide what sins are we ready to free ourselves from.

Pick the one sin that you feel you are ready to decrease doing by 50%. Let’s use talking “Lashon Harah“, speaking slanderous words about other people, as an example. Make a game plan. Try writing it down in your journal every time you commit that specific sin, or get a friend of yours to partner in this effort to reduce slandering others. Remember King David’s advice to his son King Solomon, “Overcome your impulses”, in order to move closer to Hashem (G-d).

Map: This Haftorah took place in Bavel (Babylonia). Ezekiel was one of the only prophets to prophecy outside of the Land of Israel.

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Timeline: This Haftorah occurred about 2433 years ago.

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Timeline: Ephraim Waxman, Dor L’Dor , Feldheim Publishers

Written by: Reuben Gavriel Ben Nissim Ebrahimoff 5773-2013

E-mail: Haftorahman@Haftorahman.com