In 2002, National Review Online (NRO) a popular conservative magazine published an article about Red Heifers. Apparently one was born in Israel in 1997 and it was blemish free. However, as it approached "sacrificial" age, white hairs began popping out on its tail. It was disqualified. Nevertheless, another blemish free Red Heifer was born that same year (2002) that was also blemish free. However, it would need to be at least 3 years of age. Fastfoward three years to 2005 and consider this article...
An ultra-orthodox Jewish sect is searching for parents willing to hand over newborn sons, to be raised in isolation and purity in preparation for the rebuilding of the Biblical Temple in Jerusalem.
Only members of the Jewish priestly caste (Kohanim) need apply,according to a report in the Haaretz newspaper, dated March 1st.
The Movement for Establishing the Temple wants to keep the children in a secluded compound in the hills of Jerusalem.
"The idea is to raise a child, who from the moment of birth will nottouch the dead, not be under the same roof with the dead, and will not even be in a hospital...where the dead are also found,'' Yosef Elboim, the rabbi assigned to finding willing parents, told Haaretz.
Once the boys turn 13 they will be able to slaughter and burn a sacred red heifer, literally a holy cow, and sprinkle its ashes on people, in a purification ritual last performed in Biblical times.
The ritual is meant to cleanse those who have come into contact with the dead and prepare them for the reconstruction of the Temple destroyed in 70 AD. "Today, when there is no one undefiled who can prepare the ashes in a state of purity, there is a problem, which we intend to solve with the help of priestly children," Elboim said.
Even if willing parents step forth, the sect will still face a majorproblem -- finding an unblemished red heifer. (Reuters)
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