From the URJ's Table Talk resources, from 5759:
Vayikra, Leviticus 1:1–5:26
The Torah: A Modern Commentary pp. 757–778
Haftarah, Esther 7:1–10; 8:15–17CYCLE ONE
This Shabbat we begin reading the third book of the Torah, Leviticus. Leviticus contains many of the laws and precepts of Judaism. It also contains a description of the system of sacrifices which was, for the Israelite community of the time, the primary way of worshipping God. In Hebrew this book and its first portion are called Vayikra meaning, "And [God] called." The parashah opens with God calling to Moses and explaining the various sacrifices. Five different sacrifices are described: the burnt offering--olah; the meal offering--minchah; the sacrifice of well being--zevach shelamim; the sin offering--chatat; and the guilt offering-asham.
Olah means "that which goes up." The entire animal except for the hide was burnt on the altar. The olah had to be male without blemish and could be a bull, a sheep, a goat or birds, depending on one's financial means.
The minchah was an offering of unleavened flour in the form of cakes or wafers. Part of it was burnt on the altar and the rest given to Aaron and his sons.
The zevach shelamim offering could be a male or female cow, sheep, or goat. A part of it would be burnt on the altar, a part given to Aaron and his sons and the rest would provide a festive meal for the one bringing the sacrifice and his or her guests.
The olah, minchah, and zevach shelamim were voluntary sacrifices.
The chatat offering was brought by an individual or a community which had unknowingly sinned regarding one of the commandments. These sins included: failure to testify, touching an unclean animal or carcass, coming in contact with human uncleanness, or failure to fulfill an oath. If the offering was made by the whole community or an anointed priest a bull had to be sacrificed. If it were a tribal chieftain a male goat was brought as the sacrifice. If it were a ordinary Israelite a female goat or sheep was offered. The animal brought for sacrifice depended on the place in society an individual occupied.
The asham sacrifice was brought by a person who had sinned by committing robbery or fraud. The guilty person had to give back the stolen item plus an additional one fifth of its value and then sacrifice a ram or give the equivalent in money. Depending on the financial means of the individual female sheep or goat, birds or choice flour was sacrificed.
COMMENTARY
Sacrifice was the way ancient Israelites worshipped God. In Hebrew the word for sacrifice is korban. It is based on the Hebrew letter root koof-resh-bet which means to "draw near." Making a sacrifice was the way an Israelite could draw near or come close to God. Specific sacrifices demonstrated specific feelings: to show a belief in God, the olah or the minchah offering, to give thanks to God for the good things in one's life, the zevach shelamim or to show God that one was sorry for doing something wrong, the chatat or asham offering. Sacrifices could only be offered at the Temple in Jerusalem and the rituals could only be performed by ordained priests.
This last offering raised concerns among the prophets who thought an individual might commit a deliberate wrong and then offer a sacrifice to square the account (The Torah: A Modern Commentary p. 768). The prophets criticized the people for behaving as they pleased, breaking Jewish laws, and then offering a sacrifice to repent for their behavior. The prophets felt that this kind of offering was superficial and did not lead the people to change their behavior or to be close to God. The prophets also criticized the people for fulfilling their ritual obligation to offer sacrifices, while at the same time treating people unjustly. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah condemned the people for offering sacrifices while continuing to behave wickedly.
When the second Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E., the sacrificial cult ended. Prayer, study and the doing of good deeds were considered acceptable substitutes for the sacrifices which could no longer be offered.
TABLE TALK
- The sacrifices expressed religious devotion and the people's love for God. How do you show your devotion and connection to Judaism? In what ways do you show your love for God? How does this make you like our ancestors? In what ways do modern Jewish rituals express the things our ancestors tried to express through the various sacrificial offerings? In what ways do our modern rituals distinguish us from our ancestors?
- Our ancestors encountered many difficulties in order to fulfill the commandment to go to Jerusalem to bring sacrifices. The trip was long and the cost of arranging the appropriate sacrifice was significant. What kinds of sacrifices does Judaism require of us today? In what ways is practicing Judaism difficult? In what ways is it easier than at the time described in the Torah portion?
- After the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the rabbis decreed that prayer, Torah study and acts of loving kindness replace sacrifices. When have you participated in prayer? In Torah Study? In acts of loving kindness? How do these things move you closer to God?
- Imagine that the prophets were speaking to you. What does their message of meaningless sacrifice and unethical behavior mean to you? What did the prophets want the people to do? What does their message tell us about our own behavior?
