7:12 “אם על תודה יקריבנו” – “If he shall offer it for a thanksgiving offering.” It says in the Midrash Rabbah that in the future, when Moshiach comes, all korbonos will become Batel, nullified, except for the korbon Todah which will not become Batel. What is the meaning of this Midrash?
Chasam Sofer in the name of his Rebbe, the Hafla’ah, “כי תזבחו זבח תודה לרצונכם תזבחוהו”. The Gemara in Brachos 54a tells us that there are four who need to bring a korbon todah – to thank Hakodosh Boruch Hu, for they were in a situation of tzarah, and they were saved from it. In truth, one whom Hakodosh Boruch Hu saved from a tzarah occurring to him should thank Hakodosh Boruch Hu even more – for he didn’t need to go through the tzarah – he was saved before the tzarah ever happened. However, the masses do not think like this, and they think that it is only if a tzarah comes upon them, and they are saved from it, then they should bring a korbon kodah. The בר דעת, one who has intellect is to be bring a korbon todah with great desire, even without a tzarah coming upon him, to thank Hakodosh Boruch Hu for all the miracles and wonders that He constantly does for him at all times, at every moment.
This is what the words mean, “לרצונכם תזבחוהו” – that one should bring a Korbon Todah with ratzon – with joy for everything Hakodosh Boruch Hu does for him – without having a Tzarah. The Torah doesn’t mention the korbon todah in parshas Vayikra – because the masses think that the korbon Todah only comes with a tzarah, chas v’sholom. Thus, it is mentioned here in parshas Tzav, when the Torah is speaking about the halachos of the kohanim, for the kohanim know what the korbon todah is really meant to be for – it is to thank Hakodosh Boruch Hu for the miracles and wonders He performs every day.
After we are told of the four who were in a tzarah and were saved, and need to bring a korbon todah, it says, “מי חכם וישמר אלה ויתבוננו חסדי ד'” – telling us that even after someone had one of these tzoros, and was saved from it, the wise man will recognize that in truth, he should have been giving thanks to Hakodosh Boruch Hu even without this – just for being, “ויתבוננו חסדי ד'” – for contemplating the chessed of Hashem –recognizing all that He does for us constantly.
This is what the Midrash is telling us, that le’asid lavo, all korbonos will become batel except for the korbon todah, for Klal Yisroel will no longer sin, nor will they need to request things, though they will need to thank Hakodosh Boruch Hu. One may have thought, that if one will still need to bring a korbon todah le’asid lavo, that means that chas v’sholom there will still be tzarah. To this it is answered that all tefilos will become batel as well, for one will not need to ask for things. There will not be tzarah, and there will only be goodness. As we say, “ושמחתים בבית תפילתי” – there will only be joy in tefilah – it will not be crying out with requests, rather it will all be thanks to Hakodosh Boruch Hu.
RABBI BEN ZION SNEH
