by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Technological advances can make enormous changes in life.  Medicine, for example, has advanced enormously with ever improving imaging techniques.  Communications as well, have improved with the combination of cell towers and advanced video processing algorithms.  It is time to bring the Parah Adumah back and here is how we can do it, Since 1988, we have had the technology to make the bringing back of the Parah Adumah much easier – at least according to Rav Yeshayahu ben Avraham Ha-Levi Horowitz (c. 1555 – 1630), better known as the Shelah HaKadosh, whose father was a student of the Ramah. A BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH The SHla HaKadosh passed away 392 years ago – to the day – on March 24th, In 1602, the Shla was appointed Av Beit Din in Austria, and in 1606 was appointed Rav of Frankfurt. In 1614, after serving as rabbi in prominent cities in Europe, he eventually became the chief rabbi of Prague.  In 1621, after the death of his wife, he moved to Eretz Yisroel, and was appointed as the Ashkenazic Rav of Yerushalayim.  In 1625, he was kidnapped and imprisoned, together with 15 other Jewish rabbis and scholars, by the Pasha (Ibn Faruh) and held for ransom. After 1626, the Shla moved to Tzfas.  His yartzeit is the 11th of Nissan (March 24, 1630). The Shla HaKadosh writes (Meseches Yuma, Derech Chaim, Tochachas Mussar 203) that on the Shabbos Parshas Parah, one should learn the entire Mishnayos of Parah so that it will count as if we had brought it, on account of uneshalma farim sefaseinu (Hoshea 14:3). Chapter 1 Rabbi Eliezer says: The Eglah Arupa is no more than 1 year old and the cow no more than 2 years old. But the Chachomim ruled: the Eglah Arupa may be even 2 years old and the red cow even 3 or 4 years old. Rabbi Meir says: even five years old, though she is old. But they did not wait with it so long since it might in the meantime grow some black hairs and thus become invalid. Rabbi Yehoshua said: I only heard of [a cow] that was three years old [shelashis]. They said to him: What does “shelashis” mean? He replied: That’s how I heard it – without any explanation. Ben Azzai said: I will explain: if you say “shelishis” the meaning is ‘the third’ in number to others, but when you say “shelashis” the meaning is one that is three years old. Similarly, they said a vineyard that is “revai.” They said to him: what does “revai” mean? He replied: That’s how I heard it – without any explanation. Ben Azzai said: I will explain: if you say “revii” the meaning is the fourth in number to others, but when you say “revai” the meaning is one that is four years old. Similarly it was ruled: if a man ate in an afflicted house half a loaf, three of which can be made from a kav, he becomes unclean. They said to him: say rather “eighteen of which are made of a se’ah.” He replied: That’s how I heard it – without any explanation. Ben Azzai said: I will explain: when you say, three of which are made of a kav it would not […]

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