Ilustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
In This Week’s Parashah: מָה בַּפָּרָשָׁה
Full Parashah Reading: Bemidbar 19:1-22:1
- The ashes of a פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה (parah adumah, red cow) can purify anyone who becomes טָמֵא (tamei, impure) through contact with a dead body.
- Miriam dies.
- Benei Yisrael lack water and complain about it. God tells Moshe and Aharon to take a staff and speak to a rock to get water for the people. Moshe hits the rock twice with the staff, and it gushes water.
- God tells Moshe and Aharon, “Because you failed to sanctify Me, you will not enter the Land of Israel.”
- God says it’s time for Aharon to die. Moshe takes Aharon and his son Elazar to the top of a mountain. The special כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל (Kohen Gadol, High Priest) garments are taken off Aharon and placed on Elazar, and Aharon dies. Benei Yisrael mourn for 30 days.
- Benei Yisrael complain again about lack of food and water. God sends deadly snakes. God tells Moshe to create a copper snake and put it up on a pole. Whoever looks at this is healed.
- The armies of Sihon and Og fight against Benei Yisrael, and Benei Yisrael win.
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