Parsha Pizzazz - VaYikra
Vayikra
This week, we begin the Book of Vayikra, which picks up right where we left off at the end of Parshat Pekudey, the last parsha of the Book of Sh'mot. The Book of Sh'mot ended with Moshe assembling the parts of the Mishkan " HaShem's home" in the desert and placing the holy furnishings inside it. In this week's parsha, HaShem gives Moshe instructions for how the Jewish people should use the Mishkan to serve Him.
A Time-Honored Tradition
Now that the Mishkan was complete, the Clouds of Glory surrounded it on all sides, making it impossible for anyone to go inside. HaShem's shechina (Divine presence) filled the entire inside of the Mishkan. Moshe stood outside, waiting patiently. He knew that he must wait for HaShem to call him and invite him in.
At last, HaShem's voice broke through the silence but only Moshe could hear it.
"Moshe, Moshe!" HaShem called from above the Aron, inside the Holy of Holies. "I want you to speak to the Jews, and tell them that I love the entire Jewish people and want only the best for them. That's why I have given them My Torah, with all of its holy commandments. Now that they have this beautiful Mishkan, your people need to learn how to use it properly, and you must teach them. They will bring korbanot - offerings of animals and flour on the altar and in this way, they will serve Me and become a holy nation."
Even though this was the first time that HaShem gave a commandment to bring sacrifices, it was not the first time that sacrifices were offered as a way to show gratitude or express regret to HaShem. In fact, there were seven people, beginning with Adam HaRishon, the very first man, and leading up to Moshe, who offered korbanot to HaShem, even before the Mishkan was built.
Adam made the first korban (sacrifice) ever when he offered an ox as a way to show that he was sorry for eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.
1. Adam's son Hevel sacrificed his best sheep as a special gift to HaShem.
2. Noach offered korbanot after the flood ended, to thank HaShem for allowing his family to survive and begin to build a new world.
3. Avraham, the first Jew, also offered sacrifices, on four different altars that he built, in the land of Israel.
4. Yitzchak built one altar, and sacrificed to HaShem on it.
5. Yaakov built two altars for sacrifices.
6. Moshe offered korbanot even before HaShem gave him the command in this week’s parsha. The first time was after the battle with Amalek. Later, HaShem told him to have all the first-born of the Jewish people offer sacrifices at Mount Sinai, before the Torah was given.
Even though the forefathers of the Jewish people lived before the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, through Divine Inspiration they already knew and kept the laws of the Torah. That’s why they all offered only kosher animals on their altars.
Sacrifices - an Explanation
You might be wondering why HaShem wanted the Jews to offer korbanot as a way to apologize for doing something wrong.
When a person goes against a commandment of the Torah, he distances himself from HaShem. A korban brings him close to HaShem again—the word korban comes from the same root as the Hebrew word karov, meaning “close.”
In the parsha, whenever a sacrifice is described, we read that the burning of the offering makes a reyach nicho'ach - a smell that is pleasant and satisfying to HaShem. Bringing a korban allows a person to do something good for HaShem, to fulfill a commandment that brings Him pleasure.
Why Should We Learn This?
Since we don't have a Mishkan or a Beit HaMikdash today, we cannot do the mitzvah of offering korbanot. Instead, we fulfill our obligation by learning the laws of korbanot in detail (just like we’re doing now, by learning this week's parsha).
Our Sages tell us that tefillah, prayer, now takes the place of the korbanot. That's why our morning prayers are introduced by descriptions of the korbanot, and in the silent Shmoneh Esray prayer, we pray for a return to the service of the Beit HaMikdash.
Be Prepared!
The Chafetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan, was a great rabbi and leader who headed a yeshiva in Radin, Russia, about 100 years ago. In his classes, he encouraged his students to study the sections of the Talmud that discuss the laws of korbanot, which sometimes can be very complicated.
"Today, students," he announced one morning, "we will begin something new. We will learn Kodshim. It's the Talmud that talks all about the detailed laws of bringing korbanot - sacrifices."
"But Rabbi," his students protested. "There are so many things we need to learn. Shouldn't we learn spend our time learning something a bit more practical?"
"Practical?" said the Chafetz Chaim. "What could possibly be more practical than learning the laws of korbanot?"
"With all due respect, Rabbi - what are you talking about? We don't have a Beit HaMikdash [Holy Temple], and we can't even bring korbanot!"
"That's true. But Moshiach can come at any moment and then we will have the third Beit HaMikdash! And the Kohanim of this generation - myself included - better be ready to do our job!"
