Could a red angus be the actual parah adumah?

It’s parshas Chukas, in which the mitzvah described as the ultimate chok outlines the mysterious purification process for one who has contracted tumas meis. The depth of this mitzvah is incomprehensible to anyone other than Moshe Rabbeinu, but today it is difficult even to imagine what an entirely red heifer might look like.

For Rabbi Sholey Klein, kashrus administrator of Dallas Kosher, along with a group of students from Dallas’s Jewish community, the imagery may not be much of a problem. In the course of his duties as a mashgiach, Rabbi Klein learned of a farm called Triple Creek Ranch, located in Rockwall, Texas, that was raising red angus. Upon inquiry, he learned that the farm’s owners were actually religious and understood the Biblical importance of these unique cows. They took meticulous care in ensuring that all the relevant halachos in raising a parah adumah be observed, and have already transferred several to Eretz Yisrael.

The idea of a parah adumah being raised by non-Jews has precedent; Kiddushin 31a tells of how Dama ben Nesina, who was not Jewish, made a handsome profit off selling a parah adumah to the Chachamim.

Could a red angus be the actual parah adumah? One cannot know for certain. But hopefully, we will find out. Very, very soon.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 967)