Are We Really That Different?

Vayikra

Lev.1:1 - 5:26

Précis: The title of the Third Book of the Torah, Vayikra (“And He called”) is usually translated as “Leviticus” in English, from its Septuagint (Greek) name, which in turn is based on the fact that much of the Book concerns ritual sacrifices performed under the auspices of the Levites.  The introduction to this Book in Etz Hayim reminds us that the central concern of the ancient Israelites was “how they were to express their loyalty” to Adonai. The answer from Vayikra: they were “to be holy, for I Adonai Your God, am holy.” Yet, as noted in the introduction to this Book in the Plaut Commentary, much of this “holiness” is expressed in terms of rituals which ceased to exist with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. The word generally used in English for the ritual offerings in the Temple is “sacrifice,” but there is a deeper meaning to be found in the Hebrew word, korban, from a root meaning “to draw closer.” The system of “sacrifices” (“korbanot”) was designed to allow the Israelites to “draw closer” to the Ineffable.

            With the end of the sacrificial system, the instructions of Vayikra for centuries remained an important area of study because of the belief that a restoration of the sacrificial system would occur. As the synagogue became the center of Jewish religious life, prayers were inserted seeking the restoration of sacrifices at the Temple. These remain in traditional liturgy today, as a daily reminder of our ancient ritual life and its core intent of drawing closer to God.

Lev.1:1 “Adonai called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying...”

            Near the conclusion of last week’s reading (and at the end of Exodus), we read in 40:35 that Moses was barred from entry into the Tent of Meeting because the Cloud of God was present. This verse,​ immediately thereafter, tells us that God calls to Moses from within the Tent to instruct him of the details of the sacrificial system, through which communion with God will be established.

                The various sacrifices  and rituals were complex and had detailed instructions for how they were to be carried out. It was of paramount importance that they be done “right.” Seen in that light, they seem somehow magical. They are certainly difficult to comprehend 3,000 years later.

            We often think of animal sacrifice as abhorrent and barbaric, even if we don’t side with PETA. How can we connect with these practises in any meaningful way? Perhaps, that connection is a bit clearer when we observe the barbarism and bloodshed taking place in so much of our so-called “modern” world. If we think that the sacrificial system is incomprehensible, we might also acknowledge that our current world situation is equally incomprehensible. War, religious hatred, famine, global climate change, genocide and terrorism are all rife.

            Perhaps we fail to study the sacrificial system in depth because it is a subtle reminder of our own world, and our failure to bring about the changes which the world so desperately needs.