THE REWARDS OF SACRIFICE

Parashat Tzav (Shabbat HaGadol)
Annual: Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Haftarah: Malachi 3:4-24, 23
Nisan 10, 5783 / March 31 – April 1, 2023
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This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Bella bat Kreina and Devorah bat Feigel.
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Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live.

NOTE: NO MEETING ON APRIL 4 - CLEANING FOR PESACH.

We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov. 
On April 11, we'll be at BT Shabbat 56a, page 149 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 -  "...גופא רב אמר" - "This is the substance of that which is mentioned above: Rab said...” 
Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630 
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria: 
https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents  
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My annual Pesach Resources page is now available! Check out:
https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2023/03/pesach-resources-5783.html  
The page will be updated as needed before Pesach.
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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com 
 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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THE REWARDS OF SACRIFICE

"Command Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt offering ...'" Leviticus 6:1

The Midrash, Vayikra (Leviticus) Rabbah, quotes Psalms 51:19  - "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Either Zabdi ben Levi or Rabbi Yose ben Petros (it's not clear in the text) says that from this verse we learn that if a person does teshuvah (turns their life around through repentance), it is considered as if s/he had gone up to Jerusalem and built the Temple and altar, and there offered all of the sacrifices ordained by the Torah(!).

Moses Consecrates Aaron and His Sons and Offers Their Sin Offering (illustration from the 1728 Figures de la Bible)

The Maharal, Rabbi Yehudah Loewe of Prague, adds that every person is like the Temple. If a person is holy, the Temple is holy, and if one sins, s/he pollutes the Temple. Thus, a sinner who repents is considered to have rebuilt the Temple(!)

In Talmud Sanhedrin 99a, Rabbi Abuhu says, "At the place where ba'alei teshuvah (literally, masters of repentance) stand, perfect tzaddikim (righteous persons who have never sinned) cannot stand. For we learn in Isaiah 57:19, 'Peace, peace to the one that is far off, and to the one that is near.'" The Talmud explains that one who was far from God and has returned, takes precedence over one who was always close. Perhaps this verse also teaches that the pursuit of peace itself might serve as a rebuilding of the Temple, and provides for those who seek peace a place closer to God.

From all of these teachings cited above, it should be perfectly obvious that there is great reward in teshuvah, in turning to God and to a life of goodness and holiness. It is not easy - that's why it is compared to the sacrifices! Similarly, the pursuit of peace is often viewed as a sacrifice. It also is not easy. But it is worth the effort! For we learn, “May we be disciples of Aaron the Kohen, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving our fellow creatures and drawing them near to the Torah.”
 
Shabbat Shalom! Chag Pesach Sameach U'mashma'uti!
 

Rabbi Richard A. Flom, Rabbi Emeritus

TBH/CBM

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1 

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