Last week, we read Parshat Vayikra, the first parsha in the Book of Vayikra, in which HaShem gave Moshe instructions for bringing korbanot (sacrifices) in the Mishkan. In this week's parsha, we continue to learn about when and how to bring korbanot, along with a few surprises.
It's Clean-Up Time
The Kohanim were always busy doing their holy work in the Mishkan. Even at night, there was work to do, tending to the fire that burned on the Mizbeyach (altar) at all hours. HaShem had commanded the Kohanim to make sure that a fire was always burning on the Mizbeyach - all day and all night, and even on Shabbos and while the Jews traveled through the desert.
HaShem said to Moshe: "Please give the Kohanim instructions for an important new mitzvah. First thing every morning, they should get dressed in their beautiful, holy garments, and go up the ramp to the top of the Mizbeyach. They should scoop up some ashes with a shovel, and empty the ashes onto the floor next to the ramp."
This mitzvah was known as Terumat HaDeshen, which means "lifting of the ashes." The ashes that were scooped up were later taken to a special place, outside the walls of the city. There was always a huge mound of ashes on the Mizbeyach, which the Kohanim formed into the shape of an apple. They called the pile tapuach, which means "apple." The pile always stayed on the Mizbeyach as proof that it was constantly in use. When the Kohanim removed a shovelful of ashes, they only cleared off the "extra" ashes that overflowed from the big pile.
Cleaning the ashes was a messy job! It wasn't particularly pleasant or exciting. You might think that the Kohanim wouldn't want to do it at all - and especially while wearing their special clothes!
But the Kohanim knew that any mitzvah given by HaShem is holy, and doing it is a privilege. They also understood the deeper meaning of the ashes. Just as the ashes were all that was left of the animals that people brought as korbanot (especially the ones that were burned completely), likewise, there was nothing left of the sins of the people who had done teshuva (apologized for and corrected their mistakes).
From this we learn that when people did teshuva and brought korbanot, their past mistakes were wiped away completely, and they started over with a clean slate.
And The Winner Is?!
It was considered a great privilege for a Kohein to do the mitzvah of Terumat HaDeshen. Any Kohein who was on duty in the morning could jump up to do it. The first one to begin would be the one to have the honor.
Sometimes, several Kohanim wanted the mitzvah, so they would race up the ramp to the Mizbeyach! Whoever got there first, won the right to do the mitzvah.
But one day, during the race up the Mizbeyach, one of the Kohanim was so determined to get to the top first, that he pushed another Kohein off the ramp! The other Kohein broke his leg!
At first, it seemed like a good thing that the Kohanim were so enthusiastic about doing the mitzvah. But now things were getting a little out of hand - someone had gotten hurt. There had to be a better way.
What would be a fair way to decide who would get the honor of doing Terumat HaDeshen?
The judges of the Sanhedrin decided that Terumat HaDeshen should be assigned using a special version of a random lottery. This is how it worked:
The Kohanim stood in a circle, and each person put out one or two fingers. The Kohein in charge chose any number - for example, 40. Then he counted the fingers, around and around, until he came to the number 40, or whichever number he had picked. Whoever he ended up pointing to when he reached his number was the one who had the privilege of Terumat HaDeshen.
Saved!!
Last week, we learned about the Korban Shlaimim. This was a sacrifice that someone could bring if he wanted to thank HaShem for the good things in his life. In this week's parsha, we learn that there were times when bringing a Korban Shlomim was not a matter of choice, but an obligation.
There were four cases when someone would have to bring a Shlomim. All involve situations when a person was in some kind of danger, and survived. They are:
- A person who was freed from prison. "Thank You, HaShem, for allowing me to be a free person again!"
- A person who survived an ocean voyage. "Thank You, HaShem for bringing me safely across the deep, dark sea!"
- A person who recovered from a life-threatening illness. "Thank You, HaShem, for giving me my health back!"
- A person who safely traveled across the hot, dry desert. "Thank You, HaShem, for not letting me die of hunger, heat, or thirst, and thank You for not letting me get bitten by a scorpion? or a snake!"
These four situations are just like four miracles that happened to the Jewish people when they left Egypt:
- The Jews were freed from slavery in Egypt, which was a giant prison to them (not one Jewish slave ever escaped!).
- The Red Sea parted and they crossed through on dry land - just in time to escape the Egyptians.
- Before they received the Torah at Mount Sinai, every Jew was completely healed of all illness.
- They survived 40 years in the barren, scorching desert, protected by the amazing Clouds of Glory from the heat, snakes and scorpions.
The Shlomim is also known as Shalmay Todah, thanksgiving peace offering. It was a public celebration with family and friends.
A Public Thanks
