RED HEIFER
On the Shabbat before Parashat Hachodesh (before the month of Nissan) we read about the Red Heifer for Maftir which is to be found in Bamidbar, Chapter 19. Why?
Because in the time of Beit Hamikdash every person was obligated to bring a Korban Pesach which was eaten on Pesach eve, the Seder night. But only people who were pure could partake of this sacrifice. Therefore, right before the month of Nissan, it was publicly announced that whoever had become impure (by contact with a dead person) must purify himself, and certainly people must be careful not to become impure before Pesach itself.
Now that we have no Mikdash or no Pesach sacrifice, we read this portion in the Torah instead, just as our prayers are instead of the daily sacrifices, and hope that we will speedily merit the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash and be able, once again, to bring the Pesach sacrifice in purity at its proper time.
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