The Red Heifer, Esau, and Striking the Rock : Letters and Numbers of Torah - Chukat
Describing the red heifer ritual, the Torah states (Numbers 19:2) “Take a red heifer that never had a yoke placed upon it.” The Hebrew word for yoke (ol) is normally spelled ayin-vav-lamed, but in this verse, the vav is missing. What is the connection between 1) the missing vav, 2) the Edomites who are descended from Esau, and 3) the story of Moses striking the rock?
| Topics: | Kabbalat Ol, Chukat-Balak, Moses Strikes the Rock, Chukat, Edom, Esau, Red Heifer, Vav, Parshah |
Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin is the official Chabad emissary to downtown Brooklyn, rabbi of Congregation B’nai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights, New York and Dean of Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy. He is the author of the books, “Thank You God for Making Me a Woman", "Letters of Light", "By Divine Design", and "Guardian of Israel", and the co-author of "The Rabbi & The CEO".
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