The Midrash Says, Chapter “Acharei Mot,” Preparation for this most holy day of the year (Day of Atonement) always started a week prior to the holiday. During this time, the High Priest lived in the Temple, in a special chamber. During all seven days, he had to purify and prepare himself for the festive services.

Question: Why did the High Priest begin his preparation for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) a whole week before the holiday? Did he have to purify himself and get ready to conduct the service?

Answer: The seven days symbolize seven levels during which one ascends to the upper part of the system: to GAR. Hesed, Gevurah, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod, and Malchut descend to us from Above. We have to rise from the bottom, from Malchut to the upper level of Hesed.

The Midrash Says, Chapter “Acharei Mot,” On the third and seventh days of the preparation, the High Priest was sprinkled with water in which the ashes of the red heifer (red cow) was dissolved in case he, unwittingly, turned to become unclean by touching a corpse (something impure).

The third day stands for Hesed, Gevurah, and Tifferet or the middle line. The seventh day means the same: Netzach, Hod, and Yesod—the middle line that transitions to Malchut.

Question: What is the “red cow” and its ashes?

Answer: In the material world, the cow is an herbivore, peaceful, kind animal that gives milk and meat. People do not realize that due to this animal humankind was able to free itself from a huge number of problems – concerns about food. Indeed, each cow is a “factory” for the production of food.

From a spiritual point of view, the cow represents the properties of the left and right lines (red and white) and their correct combination, when you can use them to correct the parts of your soul.

The cow means the property of Bina – the red property of judgment ​​(Dinim), which, rising up, becomes whiter and turns into the property of mercy (Rachamim).

Ash (Ofar) is the lowest property. When the former higher properties fall on the lowest, then they can be corrected. Therefore, the high priest was anointed with the water, in which the ashes of the red cow (Red Heifer) was dissolved.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 3/12/14

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