Being Correct

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. Much of this “loyalty” is expressed in terms of complex rituals. We often refer to them as “sacrifices.” But the Hebrew word, korban, comes 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 destruction of the Second Temple, the sacrifices ended. Vayikra has 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, as a daily reminder of our need to draw close to God.

 

Lev. 5:2-3 “If a soul touches something impure… and the fact escapes him, he is unclean, and guilty.”

My fellow commentator, Shlomo Ressler, has made note of the fact that among all of the intricate laws in this week’s reading, this particular one is quite ambiguous (Weekly D’var, 3/14/19). The text is unclear as to why an individual engaged in this behavior has sinned. Is the transgression due to the fact that the individual has touched something unclean, or is it because he has forgotten that he was unclean and therefore engaged in behavior which was prohibited? As Ressler asks, what is this person actually guilty of?

            Ironically, the answer may be found in the ambiguity of the requirement. Guilt is not found by accidentally becoming impure, or by unintentionally touching a holy object when ritually impure. Rather, the guilt stems from a carelessness for one’s actions.

            It is an important matter to consider: while much of this Book involves detailed instruction of rules related to purity, the underlying theme is to be careful about compliance with what is “correct.” Adherence to what is “correct” in Vayikra can remind us that in today’s world, we need to be “correct” in our moral choices and how we interact with each other.