Lev. 6:1-8:36
Précis: The parasha begins with Adonai ordering Moses to command (“tzav”) Aaron and his sons concerning offerings. Requirements for the daily offerings, directions for the meal offerings, instructions for guilt-offerings and thanksgiving offerings are described. The parasha then describes the initial offerings of the Tabernacle made by Aaron and his sons following their consecration to priestly service by Moses.
Lev. 6:1-6 “This is the Torah of the burnt-offering... The fire on the altar shall be kept burning, not to go out: the priest shall burn wood upon it each morning… perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.”
The phenomenon of animal sacrifices is discussed by Rabbi Sacks (Rabbi Sacks Legacy, 3/30/23), where he notes that Judaism has survived for two thousand years without the practice, which this parasha details so closely. He asks a question many of us do: what was sacrifice in Judaism and why does it remain important, at least as an idea, even today? His response: We love what we are willing to make sacrifices for. During Temple times, the largely agricultural society in which Jews lived made animal sacrifices important, as an expression of love of God.
Today, we make sacrifices for those we love, whether it is to a spouse, a parent, a child or a friend. True patriots make sacrifices to the countries they love. In our congregations, we make sacrifices for the benefit of our community. Ours is a religion based on love, and not on fear.
The Hebrew word for sacrifice, korban, comes from a root meaning “to come, or bring close.” Sacks notes that the name of God used in connection with sacrifices is Adonai (Hashem), which emphasizes God’s aspects of love and compassion. This Name appears 209 times in Leviticus. God’s Hebrew name Elohim, used in connection with justice or distance, is used only 5 time in Leviticus, and always in reference to other nations.
In recent centuries, the world often operated on the principle of enlightened self-interest. This created a prosperity never seen before in human history. But part of the social contract underlying this belief was the need to sacrifice to others, be they family or community. It is this latter aspect which seems to be disappearing today around the world, as the needs of what the Bible refers to as “the widow, the orphan, and the stranger” (meaning the least among us) are being transformed into objects of fear and scorn.
Meritorious sacrifice is an expression of love. It is the gift we bring to what and to whom we love.
