Parashat
Vayikra
Regardless of one's viewpoint, what does one do today with these Torah passages about the sacrifices? Obviously, they cannot be offered. The beauty of the Hebrew language and the absence of punctuation in the Torah allow the instruction of our verse to be read as a double entendre: "If one sacrifices, let it be of yourselves (mikem)." The Torah itself gives a clue. It is not animals which we must sacrifice. Rather, we must give of ourselves.
This idea was clearly articulated shortly after the destruction of the Temple by Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai. Asked how one might make atonement in the absence of sacrifice, he replied: "We have another way of gaining atonement which is equal to it. What is it? Deeds of loving-kindness, as it is written: 'For it is loving-kindness I desire, and not sacrifice.'" (Avot D’Rebbi Natan 11a, quoting Hosea 6:6) The idea of loving-kindness as being preferable to sacrifice is quite ancient. This was reiterated by Rabbi Elazar: "Doing deeds of charity is greater than all of the sacrificial offerings." (BT Sukkah 49b)
Deeds of loving-kindness, the giving of charity, the donation of time and energy to the betterment of the community and the world - these are what God wants from us. Is that too much of a sacrifice?
Shabbat Shalom U’Mevorakh - a Shabbat of peace and blessings.
5 Nisan 5773 /
15-16 March 2013
Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26
Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26
Haftarah: Isaiah
43:21 - 44:23
My blog has a
“Mini Passover Workshop” to help you prepare to prepare for Pesach! Go
to:
http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2013/03/rav-richs-lil-ol-mini-passover-workshop.html
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
--------------------------------------------------------------
On The Nature of Sacrifice
"Speak to the Children of Israel, and say to them, 'If one from among you (mikem) shall sacrifice a sacrifice to the Lord ...'" (Leviticus 1:2)
This parashah, like nearly all of the book of Leviticus, is about the sacrifices that were offered, first in the Tabernacle, later on various high places, and finally in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Jews have struggled for centuries over the significance of the sacrifices. Rambam (Maimonides) taught that the sacrifices were a compromise - the ancient Israelites, being exposed to sacrificial cults in Egypt and Canaan, could not comprehend a God or a religion that did not involve the offering of sacrifices. In his view, the people needed to be weaned from the idolatrous practices they saw all about them. The Temple was ultimately destroyed by God because there was no longer a need on the part of humans for animal sacrifice. God had never needed them.
Ramban (Nachmanides) rejected this view. He saw the sacrifices as having moral and spiritual symbolism which was essential to Jewish religious practice. This dispute is still played out within the various movements of modern Judaism. Orthodox prayer books retain the prayers for the re-establishment of the Temple and the sacrificial cult. Over 120 years ago, Reform Judaism deleted these prayers altogether. About 80 years ago, Conservative Judaism reformulated the prayers to be in the past tense, as a remembrance of what once was.
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
--------------------------------------------------------------
On The Nature of Sacrifice
"Speak to the Children of Israel, and say to them, 'If one from among you (mikem) shall sacrifice a sacrifice to the Lord ...'" (Leviticus 1:2)
This parashah, like nearly all of the book of Leviticus, is about the sacrifices that were offered, first in the Tabernacle, later on various high places, and finally in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Jews have struggled for centuries over the significance of the sacrifices. Rambam (Maimonides) taught that the sacrifices were a compromise - the ancient Israelites, being exposed to sacrificial cults in Egypt and Canaan, could not comprehend a God or a religion that did not involve the offering of sacrifices. In his view, the people needed to be weaned from the idolatrous practices they saw all about them. The Temple was ultimately destroyed by God because there was no longer a need on the part of humans for animal sacrifice. God had never needed them.
Ramban (Nachmanides) rejected this view. He saw the sacrifices as having moral and spiritual symbolism which was essential to Jewish religious practice. This dispute is still played out within the various movements of modern Judaism. Orthodox prayer books retain the prayers for the re-establishment of the Temple and the sacrificial cult. Over 120 years ago, Reform Judaism deleted these prayers altogether. About 80 years ago, Conservative Judaism reformulated the prayers to be in the past tense, as a remembrance of what once was.
Regardless of one's viewpoint, what does one do today with these Torah passages about the sacrifices? Obviously, they cannot be offered. The beauty of the Hebrew language and the absence of punctuation in the Torah allow the instruction of our verse to be read as a double entendre: "If one sacrifices, let it be of yourselves (mikem)." The Torah itself gives a clue. It is not animals which we must sacrifice. Rather, we must give of ourselves.
This idea was clearly articulated shortly after the destruction of the Temple by Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai. Asked how one might make atonement in the absence of sacrifice, he replied: "We have another way of gaining atonement which is equal to it. What is it? Deeds of loving-kindness, as it is written: 'For it is loving-kindness I desire, and not sacrifice.'" (Avot D’Rebbi Natan 11a, quoting Hosea 6:6) The idea of loving-kindness as being preferable to sacrifice is quite ancient. This was reiterated by Rabbi Elazar: "Doing deeds of charity is greater than all of the sacrificial offerings." (BT Sukkah 49b)
Deeds of loving-kindness, the giving of charity, the donation of time and energy to the betterment of the community and the world - these are what God wants from us. Is that too much of a sacrifice?
Shabbat Shalom U’Mevorakh - a Shabbat of peace and blessings.
Rabbi Richard A.
Flom – ZSRS ‘00
Visit me on
Facebook
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still." Isaiah 62:1
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still." Isaiah 62:1
-----------------------------------------------------
Candlelighting: 6:42 pm
Lunch and Learn is
an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish
texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of
affiliation. We will NOT be meeting again until after Pesach. Next meeting is
Tuesday, April 9, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier, 11725 Moorpark
St., Studio City 91604. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD UNLESS IT IS
IN ITS ORIGINAL SEALED CONTAINER AND BEARING A HEKHSHER AS DAIRY OR PAREVE.
Lunch will be provided by Congregation Beth Meier. Donations gratefully
accepted.
Rabbi Flom will be
conducting morning services this Shabbat at 9:30 am at Mishkon Tephilo,
206
Main St., Venice, CA 90291. Torah study follows Kiddush lunch. This week’s
topic: “Seder Tidbits”
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Deb
Berenbach, Gabor ben Devorah, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche,
Morris Kronzek, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil
Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, Kitty Schmerling and Helen Tomsky.
This d'var torah is offered in memory of my father-in-law, Abraham
Kronzek, whose yahrzeit was on Tuesday, 1 Nisan. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah – May
his memory be a blessing.
The weekly divrei torah on this blog are also available as Cyber Torah via e-mail subscription (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
The weekly divrei torah on this blog are also available as Cyber Torah via e-mail subscription (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
