This week, we continue with translating the Chofetz Chaim’s Sefer entitled, “Sefas Tamim.” Sefas Tamim, from which our foundation takes its name, focuses on the importance of honesty in word and in deed.
"...So too, regarding the sacrificial burnt offering of a bird, the text states (Vayikrah 1:16) ‘He (the Kohein) will remove its crop together with its feathers.’ Since birds take flight and fly throughout the world and eat anything that they hunt and steal wherever they go, therefore do not bring them onto the Mizbayach (alter). Accordingly, the Torah instructs us to remove its (the bird’s) crop (where it would store food that it presumably stole) together with its feathers (which helped the bird fly to the food that it stole). However, regarding a grazing animal, since it only eats the food that it is in its master’s trough, it can be brought in its entirety onto the Mizbayach, as the Pasuk states (Vayikra 1:13) ‘and the Kohein will bring all of it onto the Mizbayach.’ Now, this concept is so astounding that it wakes up people from their sleep. This means to say that whoever has stolen goods in his possession cannot approach Hashem’s Mizbayach. He may not offer up any sacrifices and may not appear before Him. In fact, to the contrary, he remains despicably disgusting unless he returns the theft.
Moreover, in this world, and in the end, he will be left with nothing because of this. Because of his theft, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will send against him a man who is even more evil, who is even more powerful than he is, through whom punishment will be exacted (i.e. who will steal from him what he stole). As Chazal have taught, everything that man steals or cheats during his lifetime, he will not leave this world until other people steal it from him. Regarding this more powerful robber who looted the initial thief and who believes he can stand up against anybody, when his ‘sack’ becomes ‘full,’ Hakadosh Baruch Hu will send against him even more evil men who are even stronger than he is (to steal from him what he stole) as the Tanna teaches, ‘He saw a skull floating on the surface of the water and said to it: They have drowned you because you have drowned others, and those who have drowned you will themselves be drowned.’ (Mishna Avos 2:6)"
