Was the Red Heifer-.....Red

What colour was the Parah Adumah ?

  We find in the Torah and Chazal , the colour “Adom” can mean a) the actual red colour

 (red rose)   b) the red family, colour (brown , orange etc.)

Bereishis 25 – 30  Haliteini noh min Ha’adom Ha’adom Hazeh

 It is called red lentils, but its colour is brown.

        Zecharya  1 – 8  Ish Rochev Al Sus Adom – Susim Adumim (A man riding on a red horse-red horses)

There  are no red horses .There are brown horses.

 Succah 35b  An Esrog that was peeled and looks like a red date. Rashi says All peeled  fruits

        Nehefach l’admimus (turn red).

        Peeled or cut fruits turn brown not red.

        Bechoros 6a Rashi Stam Susim Adumim   (horses are usually red)

       Never heard of red horses

The colour of a Parah Aduma was brown .The uniqueness of the P.A. was not that it

was red. It was unique by being completely brown, not having two strands of hair in

a different colour other than brown.

Aifer From The Parah Aduma-How Long Did It Last ?

The Rash* (R.Shamshon -Shanz) writes that in the times of the Amoraim they still had Aifer Parah Adumah.

The Midrash Lekach Tov** " Reb Yochanan said from the day of the Churban Bais Hamikdash there was no more Aifer Parah Adumah"

The Chida*** writes, "The Amoraim had Aifer Parah Aduma and I am sure the Arizal had Taharas Aifer Parah Aduma done to him by Eliyahu Hanavi. From then on he had Ruach Hakodesh"

* Challah 4:8.

** Beginning P.Tazria

*** Midbar Kadeimos 1:26

Parshas Parah-Porah Aduma

What color was the Parah Aduma (red heifer) ?

For answer click HERE