Va-Yikra 5762, Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26
Shabbat Shalom-
It's been awhile since the last time I wrote you all, and there's nothing like an instruction manual for Temple worship to give a guy a kick start. It's funny I say 'guy' there because there's a lot of gender stuff going around in the reading. All the animal offerings are male except for that of the commoners. On the other hand, the offering described as fiery ('iSheH) is often mispronounced as woman ('iShaH) so women do find their way into the reading, usually smelling good too (e.g. Lev. 1:9 A pleasant smelling 'iSheH to YHWH).
I'm probably one of the few individuals who actually enjoys reading Leviticus. That is probably because of two interrelated reasons: 1) I see the sacrificial system as a symbolic system that teaches us about how our ancestors related to God and each other and 2) I have no desire to return to a sacrificial cult and thus can distance myself from our ancestors' practices and can rely on Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Rambam, 12th Century, North Africa) for this, that animal sacrifice was but a stage in Israelite history. One may even see a hint of this in Lev. 5:11 where a grain offering can be substituted for an animal. Rav Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of Palestine, at the beginning of the century held that when the Temple was restored, all offerings would be vegetable.
On a purely linguistic level it is easier to move away from animal sacrifice since the word used both for an offering (KoRBaN) and the action (HiKRiYB) mean to draw near or closen, rather than to give up. In any case, the same verb is used for the grain offering (2:1).
Now armed with a rationale for animal sacrifice in the Torah, that it was an injunction to wean the Israelites off of unethical idolatrous practices rather than for all generations, we must consider the conflict of this view with tradition. Even if we understand that ritual in general is important for our relationship with God and others and we also sublimate sacrifices into repentance, prayer, and good works (BT Ta'anit 27b, Bemidbar Rabba 18, 21) we must still deal with the issue of our philosophical dissonance with traditional thinking.
Last year as I was in studying in Jerusalem , people kept offering for me to go with them to pray at the Western Wall, an exposed remains of the Second Temple. I have had emotional experiences there, crying at the wall and all it symbolized: the concreteness and ancientness of our traditions, the brilliant history of our people, the absurdness that one faith could deny the other with both so visually rooted there, or wonder that in this place our ancestors offered their offerings by fire, a pleasant odor to the Lord.
What does it mean to touch these ancient stones that once reeked of blood, blood offered in love and fear, animals created by the Deity and returned to Him in symbolic thanks and supplication? What does it mean that these stones once beckoned Jews from across the Mediterranean to make pilgrimage? Are they ruins of past glory or the ashes from which the phoenix of a Third Temple will arise? I can only say that I see it as I see everything else in Jewish history, as a chain connecting me to my past. The edifice resonates with my past and my connectedness.
These stones symbolize the monumental devotion of our ancestors to God, a God whose prophet rebuked the people "For lovingkindness I desire, not slaughter-sacrifice and knowledge of God more than upwards-burnt offerings." (Hoshea 6:5). These stones for which so many died, the Psalmist sang in apology, "You do not desire a slaughter-sacrifice that I bring; an upwards-burnt offering you will not accept. Slaughter-sacrifices to God are a broken spirit; a broken heart and depressed, God does not spurn." (Psalm 51:18-19). More important than the stones are our character. Before we worry about building a Temple of stone, we must build a temple of friendship and peace (shalom), for the ordination of sacrifice was but one commandment meant to purify man our character (Bereishit Rabba 44:1, 2nd century CE).
'What need have I of all your slaughter-sacrifices?' says the Lord. 'I am sated with upwards-burnt offerings of rams, and suet of fatlings, and blood of bulls; and lambs and he-goats I have not desired. That you come to appear before Me-who asked that of you? Trample My courts no more; bringing oblations is futile, incense is offensive to Me. New moon and Sabbath, proclaiming of solemnities, I cannot abide iniquity in assembly. Your new moons and fixed seasons my soul hates; they are become a burden to Me, I cannot endure them. And when you lift up your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; also at your increasing prayer, I will not listen. Your hands are stained with blood-crime. Wash, be clean! Put your evil doings away from My sight. Cease to do evil; learn to do good. Seek justice; aid the wronged. Judge for the orphan; plea for the widow. (Isaiah 1:11-17, based on NJPS)
When I reach out to touch the Temple stones in Jerusalem and I think of these chapters of Leviticus, of the age-old Jewish yearning for the return of the sacrificial cult, I feel the pulse of the more principle intention, to bring goodness (Godliness) to earth. "He has told you, O man, what is good, / And what the Lord requires of you: / Only to do justice / And to love goodness, / And to walk modestly with your God." (Micah 6:8-9)
On the other hand, maybe vegetarians are on to something. Who wouldn't come to a temple rebuilt with woks of stir fry and tofu?
Have a caring week!
Benjamin Fleischer
Here's another great dvar
Torah I found.
http://www.torahaura.com/Bible/here__/LTW_5761/LTW_5761_Va-Yikra/ltw_5761_va-yikra.html
http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/parashah/5761/terumah.shtml
http://members.aol.com/Sauromalus/jewishveg.htm
The chapters from Maimonides may be found here:
https://www.angelfire.com/folk/benjo4u/Religion/docs/Rambam-Sacrifice.htm
[I have of course avoided the issue of a centralized religious cult in general since people usually see that as secondary to the problem of sacrifice itself. I am also again a centralized theocratic regime legalized only their views.]
You are also welcome to send comments and suggestions to AskTheRebbe-owner@yahoogroups.com