In a historic and majestic lesson, Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav zt"l (of blessed memory) sat close to our teacher, the holy Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), like an elite student who, from the moment he reached maturity, would draw and provide the water of his teacher's Torah to others.

Thursday, 28th of Tammuz | In the following Chizuk (strengthening), we discuss a topic that stands at the height of the world—"as vileness is exalted among the sons of men" (Psalms 12:9), these are matters that stand at the height of the universe, yet people treat them with contempt.

One should write the matter of the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) in Parshas Naso; here, you see it appears in Parshas Chukas (Rabbi Berland shlit"a turns to Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav zt"l).

The Zohar says that Aharon could not perform the service of the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) because he would become impure. For the one who sprinkles the mei chatas (purification waters) becomes impure, and Aharon is forbidden from becoming impure even for a second. Aharon is the Holy of Holies; he is called "holy."

A pure man (tahor) can become impure (tamei), but a holy man (kadosh) cannot. Aharon is in the Holy of Holies: "And Aharon and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering... for all the work of the most holy place [Kodesh HaKodashim]" (I Chronicles 6:34).

Our teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, turns again to Rabbi Meirav zt"l: So we are speaking about the fact that first of all, you must correct your mistake; you should no longer write about the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) in Parshas Chukas. The Parah Adumah does not belong to Parshas Chukas; you can write it in Naso, or in Beshalach.

So why is it actually written in Chukas?

Because the Tzaddik is the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer)!

Is there a Likutey Moharan here? (Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, points to the holy library in his home, his holy dwelling)

Rebbe Nachman writes (Likutey Moharan, Lesson 55) that today, the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) is prayer with kavannah (intention), soon we will pray Mincha (the afternoon prayer).

The entirety of Lesson 55 deals with the Parah Adumah—that the Parah Adumah is ashes. If a person prays every word with kavannah (intention), he becomes "dust and ashes."

During prayer, he must detach himself from all thoughts; he must forget about his wife and children, because he is now praying to Hashem.

The Rebbe explains here that one must nullify the prayers of the "cedars" (referring to "as the height of the cedars was his height"), the prayers of the heretics, to create a heart for them.

Why is that person a heretic?

Because he has no heart, because he is an adulterer!

He is an adulterer, so he has no heart!

His [secular] wisdom causes him to fall into heresy!