In the commandment of the red heifer—Parah Aduma—we find a special connection with Moses. He was the one who prepared the first heifer, and furthermore, God commanded: "And they shall take for you (for Moses) a red heifer." Our Sages, of blessed memory, learned from this two points that express the link between Moses and the red heifer:
a) "All the cows cease to exist, but yours endures"2. That is, only from the cow that Moshe made were ashes kept and the priests who prepared the following cows had to purify and sanctify themselves with the ashes of the cow that Moshe Rabbeinu made3.
b) Regarding the understanding of this precept: although this mitzvah is defined as "chok" - decree, since its motive was not even revealed to King Solomon, nevertheless, Hashem said to Moshe4: "I reveal to you the motive of the cow" "THE CAUSE OF DEATH
The special relationship between the mitzvah of the red heifer and Moses will be understood by first explaining the meaning of this mitzvah. Our Sages of blessed memory say that the red heifer is destined to atone for the sin of the golden calf (the heifer, the mother, must come and cleanse the impurity generated by the calf—the offspring).
If the Jews had not sinned with the golden calf, they would have been worthy of being "free from the angel of death."6 Our Sages, of blessed memory, taught that when the Giving of the Torah took place,7 the world was purified from the impurity of the sin of the Tree of Knowledge, by which death was decreed in the world, and only because of the sin of the calf did "its impurity return."8.
It turns out that the whole issue of death (which the cow comes to purify from its impurity) was generated as a consequence of the calf's sin.
A COMPLETE ARRANGEMENT
However, the correction achieved by the red heifer is only partial—it purifies from the impurity of death, but does not eliminate death itself. This correction will take place only with the tenth red heifer, which will be carried out by King Messiah. Then the sin of the Tree of Knowledge will be fully atoned for, and consequently, death, which arose because of it, will be eliminated. In the words of the prophet: "Death will be abolished forever.".
This is the explanation that Rambam10, when listing the cows that have been made up to the present, adds and emphasizes: "and the tenth will be made by King Messiah.".
This alludes to the complete purification that the red cow will bring about when the messianic redemption arrives. Then, it will remove not only the impurity of the dead but also death itself.
THE STRENGTH OF MOSES
In light of all this, the relationship between Moses and the red heifer will become clear. To overcome death, we need the strength of Moses, who was graced with the power of eternity. It is written about Moses that the work of his hands is eternal (the Sanctuary he built was not destroyed but is preserved to this day).
Regarding Moses himself it is said12: "Moses did not die... just as he was willing to serve the people before, so now he is willing and serves the people.".
This strength of Moshe Rabbeinu helps the Jewish people throughout all generations to overcome the theme of death, which symbolizes the disconnection from holiness.
Even those who have strayed from closeness to Hashem can awaken the "spark" of Moshe within their soul, the point of total surrender in their inner being, and then they can overcome all the temptations of evil and become attached to God and thus to life, as it is written:13 "and you who are attached to Hashem your God, you are all alive today.""
(Likutei Sichot Volume 33, Page 127)
NOTES: 1.Bamidbar 19:2 2.Tanchuma, our Parsha 8 Bamidbar Rabbah 19:6 3.See Para chap 3, Mishnah 5 Shalo Chelek Torah Shebijtav (359,b) 4.Tanchuma 302,8 5.Explanation of Rashi Bamidbar 19:22 based on Rabbi Moshe Hadarshan 6.Shemot Rabbah Parsha 32 Zohar 1, part 1 7.Shabbat 146 8. Zohar part 1, 52,b 126,b 9.Yeshayahu 25:8 10.Hilchot Para Adumah final chapter 3 11.Sotá 9,a 12.Sotá 13,b