Chazal[1] established reading four special
sections of the Torah during the Purim season.
The first, Shekalim[2], is read on the Shabbos
preceding Rosh Chodesh Adar. Zachor[3] is read on the Shabbos
preceding Purim. We read HaChodesh[4] on the Shabbos preceding Rosh
Chodesh Nissan. Parah[5] is read on the Shabbos before
Parshas HaChodesh.
Each of the parshiyos commemorates an activity which occurs
during this time. Shekalim commemorates
the proclamation on Rosh Chodesh Adar to bring shekalim (a denomination
of coin) to the Beis HaMikdash. When we
read Zachor we fulfill the mitzvah of remembering what Amalek did to us. Appropriately, we read this parsha on the
Shabbos before Purim since Haman descended from Amalek. Parshas Parah which describes the mitzvah of
the red heifer, is a reminder to become pure before Pesach so that we can bring
the korban Pesach. Finally,
HaChodesh describes the mitzvah of bringing the korban Pesach.
The Torah relates that the Mishkan was built and activated on
Rosh Chodesh Nissan.[6] The first red heifer was brought only after
the Mishkan was built, after Rosh Chodesh Nissan. It could not have been brought earlier
because it needed the Mishkan. Since the
red heifer could not have been brought beforehand, it would make more sense to
read parshas Parah during the month of Nissan, when the red heifer was actually
brought. Why, then, do we read Parah
before parshas HaChodesh rather than following it?
The Sfas Emes explains that two critical things happened
between the first Rosh Chodesh Nissan two weeks before the Exodus and the
second one, a year later, when the Mishkan was built. First, at the time of the Exodus, God chose us as
His nation. This is described in parshas
HaChodesh which relates the Korban Pesach, the first mitzvah we were given as a
nation. Second, a year later, on Rosh Chodesh
Nissan, the Mishkan was activated. This
second Rosh Chodesh Nissan was the eighth and final day of the initiation
sacrifices of the Mishkan.[7] With the building and activation of the
Mishkan the sin of the golden calf was rectified, God’s presenced was revealed
and we came close to Him, as we find in the first pasuk of this week's parsha, “וַֽיְהִי
בַּיוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי ... וַֽיִּקְרְבוּ כָּל־הָעֵדָה וַיַּעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי ה'׃/It
was on the eighth day … the entire community came close and stood before God.”
(VaYikra 9:1-5) These two events, being chosen and
coming close to God are the two key things that differentiate us as a nation, as
we say in the prayers of Yom Tov, “אַתָּה בְחַרְתָּנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִים ... וְקֵרַבְתָּנוּ ... לַעַבוֹדָתֶךָ/You
chose us from all the nations … and drew us near … to your service.”
At the time of the Exodus, God first chose us and then we
drew near to Him. At that time, we were
immersed in slavery and the decadence of Egypt . We needed an external catalyst to start the
process which culminated in the redemption.
Now, however, to reach a level of being chosen we need to first come
close to God through repentance. When we
show God that we desire to be close to Him, He reciprocates and chooses
us. For this reason, parshas Parah,
which represents what we do to purify ourselves in order to come close to God, precedes parshas HaChodesh
which, as we’ve said, represents God’s choosing us.
Chazal allude to this at the end of last week’s parsha
following the description of the initiation services and sacrifices during the
eight days culminating on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, “כַּֽאֲשֶּר עָשָׂה בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה צִוָּה ה'
לַֽעֲשֹׂת לְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם׃/As he (Moshe) had done on this day, so God
commanded to do in order to atone for you.” (VaYikra 8:34) Chazal teach us that לַעֲשֹׂת/to do, refers to the
red heifer [8] Why do Chazal find a hint to the red heifer
specifically here, before Rosh Chodesh and the activation of the Mishkan? The Sfas Emes explains that Chazal are
teaching this very concept. To merit
being chosen by God, we must first show him that we desire to be close to Him
by purifying ourselves through repentance.
The Sfas Emes says that it is very possible that Chazal are
hinting to another important idea, as well.
Apparently the period immediately preceding Rosh Chodesh Nissan was
designated from the time of the initiation of the Mishkan for atonement and
purification. In fact, the Sfas Emes
says further, that for those of us who desire and anticipate purification, an
aspect of purification enters our souls before Rosh Chodesh Nissan. For this reason Chazal established reading
Parah specifically prior to Rosh Chodesh Nissan. This is the time when we are given the
opportunity to merit purification and coming close to God.
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