A second potential parah adumah calf has been born in the Golan Heights, the National Institute for Red Heifer Research announced Tuesday, roughly five weeks after another candidate was discovered.

The calf was born in the herd of Shay Givon, the institute’s cattle specialist, who also identified the previous calf. No identification tag was attached to its ear, in order to avoid creating a possible blemish. “I feel that we are living in a historic period,” Givon said, adding that he has received inquiries from Jews across Israel and abroad since the earlier birth.

However, the new calf was born alongside a male twin, creating a separate halachic question. In cattle, female calves born with male twins can develop a condition known as freemartinism, in which shared hormones affect the female’s reproductive system. The calf may appear entirely normal externally while having an internal congenital abnormality.

Rabbi Azaria Ariel, who heads the institute’s beis medrash, said approximately 20 rabbis will examine whether such a hidden condition would disqualify the animal. “There is a question over whether a congenital defect that is not external or visible on the cow’s body disqualifies its unblemished status, both regarding offerings generally and the parah adumah specifically,” he said. The institute plans to bring its conclusions to leading poskim.

Under halacha, the ashes of a qualifying parah adumah are required to purify people from impurity caused by contact with the dead, a necessary step for renewed Beis Hamikdash service. Neither of the two recent calves has yet been declared halachically valid. The earlier calf also remains under review because an ear tag was attached shortly after its birth.