בס”ד
We were blessed this year with a trip to Israel where we took a day trip with guide Aryel Tsion.
He told us the remarkable story about the Red Heifer and his friend Larry Borntrager
The Red Heifer is one of the unique commandments mentioned in the Bible in Numbers 19:2
| This is the statute of the law which the L-RD hath commanded, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer, faultless, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke. | זֹ֚את חֻקַּ֣ת הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה ד’ לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֣ר ׀ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֣וּ אֵלֶ֩יךָ֩ פָרָ֨ה אֲדֻמָּ֜ה תְּמִימָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵֽין־בָּהּ֙ מ֔וּם אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־עָלָ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ עֹֽל׃ |
The red heifer was extremely important during the time of the Holy Temple because its ashes were used in a special purification ritual to cleanse people of the impurity acquired by touching or being under the same roof as a corpse. Once impure, individuals could not enter the Holy Temple or partake in offerings or other sacred food. The purification procedure required sprinkling with a mixture of spring water and the ashes of the burned remains of the red heifer. This ritual allowed impure individuals to participate again in holy activities and gain access to the Temple.
Because the purity of the red heifer itself was crucial for the effectiveness of the purification process, there were strict rules regarding its care and handling. After the destruction of the Temple, the red heifer was no longer needed, and over time, there were no more red heifers.
Several years ago, in anticipation of the coming of the Third Temple, which would once again require the use of a red heifer for the purification process, a rabbi began searching for red heifers that would meet the stringent requirements. They found a Noahide breeder of red heifers in Texas. Inspired by the Biblical concept of the red heifer, this breeder had raised red heifers that were untagged, young, and small.
Typically, cattle are tagged, which would disqualify a red heifer according to Jewish law. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a unique situation arose where animals could not be tagged temporarily. This resulted in red heifers that were untagged and thus potentially kosher for the ritual.
When the rabbi discovered this, he was thrilled because these heifers met the strict requirements for a red heifer. The main challenge, however, was transporting the animals to Israel. Due to regulations, they could not be shipped as cattle since there was no agreement between the USA and Israel for importing cattle. The ingenious solution was to export the red heifers as pets. They were small enough to fit into the largest dog crates and were thus imported into Israel as “large pets.” Once in Israel and after inspection by the relevant authorities, they were allowed to remain untagged. This facilitated the further breeding of red heifers in Israel. As of June 16, 2024, there are five red heifers in Israel, enough to continue the lineage.
However, a practical problem arose. The red heifers in Shiloh had no suitable Jewish caretaker, and no one was allowed to touch them. If handled improperly, they could become non-kosher. Currently, there isn’t a Jewish caretaker with sufficient knowledge to handle them correctly without risking their kosher status, and there isn’t enough funding to train someone adequately. Due to this lack of expertise and resources, the heifers were dirty and poorly cared for.
When Larry Borntrager, a Noahide from Indiana, USA, who is retired from a long career working with cattle, saw the heifers for the first time in February, he immediately wanted to help. Larry was a close friend of Vendyl Jones, the archaeologist on whom the film “Indiana Jones” is pissibly based on. Vendyl Jones was not only an archaeologist but also a Noahide. Although he was originally a Christian, he eventually left the religion. His children ultimately converted to Judaism (giur) and now live in Israel.
Larry Borntrager asked Moriyah, who was in charge, if he could help, and she agreed, in consultation with Rabbi Ariel of The Temple Institute. Rabbi Ariel personally requested Larry to take on this responsibility. Because Larry Borntrage is a Noahide and adheres to the Seven Noahide Laws which consist of:The Prohibition of Blasphemy against G-d, The Prohibition of Idolatry, The Prohibition of Theft, Prohibition of Eating Meat of a Live Animal, The Command to Establish Just Laws and Courts, The Prohibition of Forbidden Sexual Relations and The Prohibition of Murder and Injury. And because he has an extensive knowledge of cattle, he is permitted to touch the heifers when necessary for their well-being. This contrasts with Jewish individuals, who can handle the spices we found but are prohibited from touching the red heifers for personal reasons, due to the risk of rendering the heifers non-kosher through improper handling.
Today, Larry Borntrager plays a crucial role in the care of the red heifers. Efforts are ongoing to secure a work permit for Larry Borntrager to stay in Israel for five years or more.
To have perfectly red heifers in these days raises speculation about whether they are a harbinger of the messianic era. After all, Maimonides himself codifies the following as Jewish law in Mishneh Torah, Red Heifer 3:
Nine red heifers were offered from the time that they were commanded to fulfill this mitzvah until the time when the Temple was destroyed a second time. The first was brought by Moses our teacher. The second was brought by Ezra. Seven others were offered until the destruction of the Second Temple. And the tenth will be brought by the King Moshiach; may he speedily be revealed. Amen, so may it be G‑d’s will.
By Angelique Sijbolts
With imput and feedback from Larry Borntrigger and Aryel Tsion
Sources and Notes
Text Mechon Mamre.org
Adopt a Red Heifer and support with this donation also the work of Larry Borntrigger
In this another photo, Larry Borntrigger enjoys displaying a vial of ketoret, the incense used in the Temple. He discovered this along with Wendell Johs during archaeological work in Qumran, where they found a remarkable 600 kilograms of this ketoret. This incense likely dates back to the Second Temple period. According to Jewish law, a Jew is not permitted to touch the ketoret, but a Noahide like Larry can. Therefore, Larry proudly displays a vial of ketoret and shares its story.
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Thanks for sharing. I personally knew Vendyl; I was involved with him and his Plural Covenants ministry from 1981-87.
One very important piece missing from the story is Vendyl’s search for the previous ashes of the red heifer, and the reason WHY:
“It is important because these ashes must be found before Israel can have a Sanhedrin, before they can have a priesthood, and before the orthodox Jew recognizes Israel as being authentic… from the time of Moses to the destruction of the [Second] Temple, the last heifer to be sacrificed was offered immediately before the destruction of the Temple, and the ashes were never used…between the time of Moses and the time that the last one was offered, there were only seven cows sacrificed…they can’t offer another red heifer. It has to be the last one that was offered because they have to have those specific ashes…
…The purification of the Temple, the purification from defilement, the purification of the priesthood and the purification of the Sanhedrin, all the sprinkling of water for purification was the purified water from the red heifer’s ashes and not just plain water. If a person was defiled by blood, or the dead, or if a leper was healed, this was used for the cleansing…they took the dung of the calf and they mixed it with clay, and made a vessel. This vessel was called the Kalal, a pot made with clay and cow dung… about three gallons of ash…when they used all those ashes and offered another heifer, they took the pot and the ashes that remained in the pot, put that on the cow and offered it with the cow in the next offering. Each time there was a carry over from the last time, so that in the last one that was killed some remnant of the ashes of the first red heifer remain.”
~ Vendy M. Jones, 1981 “The Search for the Ashes of the Red Heifer” Southwest Radio Church, Oklahoma City, OK
Thank you for the information
Awesome,,, thx,,