Dear Friends;
I hope that you will enjoy the following Parsha summary followed by a Dvar Torah;
” Parsha in a Nutshell ”
Parashat Vayikra begins with Hashem calling Moshe into the Mishkan where he will be taught many mitzvot, to be ultimately passed on to the Jewish people. The first half of the parsha describes the various “optional” korbanot (sacrifices) brought by individuals. They consist of the following: the korban olah (elevation offering) which is completely consumed on the altar; the korban minchah (meal offering) which, because of its inexpensive contents, is usually brought by someone of modest means; and the korban shelamim (peace offering) partially burned on the altar, with the remainder divided between the owners and the Kohanim.
The second half of the portion discusses the “required” chatat (sin) and asham (guilt) offerings to be brought in atonement for unintentional transgressions.
The sin offering is brought to atone for transgressions committed negligently by the High Priest, the entire community, the king, or the ordinary Jew.
The “guilt offering” is brought by one who is in doubt as to whether he transgressed a divine prohibition, or who has committed a “betrayal against G-d” by swearing falsely to defraud a fellow man.
” Dvar Torah ”
The main topic of discussion in this week’s parsha and the next few parashiot are the laws of sacrifices that the people used to bring to the “Mishkan” or the “Beith Hamikdash” once it was built. The Torah describes in great detail the different kinds of sacrifices. The elevation offering, the meal offering, the peace offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering. The objects that were brought for sacrifices included cattle, sheep, turtledove and fine flour. The highest form of sacrificing was slaughtering an animal. The purpose of sacrificing was mainly to atone for sins. When an animal was slaughtered, its blood had to be sprinkled on the Altar. Sacrifices had to be brought even if the High Priest sinned, if the King sinned and if the entire nation sinned.
Well, for most of us, the idea of sacrificing is very hard to understand. Why should killing of an animal be an atonement for a sin? Why does Hashem need sacrifices? And why does the Torah elaborate so much about sacrificing? Our Torah which is so careful with the use of words, dedicates nearly an entire book to sacrifices?! The mystery of “sacrificing” still bothers the commentators to this very day. Many Chachamim believe that the concept of sacrificing is beyond our understanding, but surprisingly, some Chachamim give a perfect explanation to the reason behind “sacrifices”, which I would like to share one with you.
The word “sacrifice” in Hebrew is called “Korban”, which comes from the same root as the word “Karov – to come close”. The whole idea of sacrificing is that when we do a sin, Hashem doesn’t want us to run away! On the contrary, He wants us to come close to him! Hashem is ready to forgive us, but he wants us to come close and ask for forgiveness. And sacrificing was the mean to come to the Temple and get close to the Almighty. Hashem does not need our sacrifices, but when we offer a sacrifice and we see that its been accepted by Him, we feel the satisfaction that we’ve been pardoned. The actual act of slaughtering an animal was not the atonement for the sin, but the whole idea of coming close to Hashem was! The Torah is teaching us that you can not ask for forgiveness from far; you have to be close, be sincere and be ready to sacrifice!
Yes my friends, the whole concept of sacrificing was to bring us close to the Almighty. Hashem wants to be close to us and wants us to make Him part of our lives. He wants us to come to his Sanctuary and talk to him as much as we can. In the times when the Beith Hamikdash was still erected, every Jew had to bring a sacrifice to Temple on the three High Festivals of Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot. Again, not because Hashem needed our sacrifices, but because He wanted to see everyone on the joyous Holidays. Hashem wants to be with us in our happy and sad occasions. Hashem loves us and wants to be with us at all times, so let’s not lock Him out of our lives!
Although we don’t have our Temple and sacrifice ceremonies anymore, but we have our Kanissas and our daily prayers. Let us go to our Kanissa as much as we can and let us show some enthusiasm that we want to be with Hashem as much as He wants to be with us!
Shabbat Shalom & Regards;
Martin