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Why does Parah Adumah contain an inherent contradiction that the same waters purify one person while defiling the sprinkler? The contradiction teaches that there are two perceptions of reality - how others see us versus how we see ourselves. This lesson applies to lashon hara, death, and even the sin of the golden calf.
This shiur explores the fundamental question of what we are meant to learn from the contradictory nature of Parah Adumah, where the same ritual waters simultaneously purify the recipient while defiling the one performing the sprinkling. Rabbi Zweig begins by noting that while we may not understand how such contradictions are possible, we must ask what Hashem (ה׳) intends to teach us through revealing this paradox. The analysis centers on a Midrash Tanchuma that presents a dialogue between various creatures and a snake. When questioned about its deadly bite that affects the entire body, the snake deflects by pointing to the person who speaks lashon hara, saying that such a person can speak in one location and cause death in Rome. This seemingly disconnected Midrash actually provides the key to understanding Parah Adumah's lesson.
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