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Giving
Yourself
By Binyomin Adilman
The
Book of Leviticus, contains some of the most difficult subjects in the
Torah. The concept of sacrifices is one that is very foreign to the "modern"
mind. There are, however, many essential lessons to use in our divine
service.
"Speak
to the Children of Israel and say to them, when a person from [amongst]
you will offer up a sacrifice to G-d, from the cattle, herds or flocks
should the sacrifice be brought." (Lev. 1:2)
The
Midrash, however, interprets the verse to give us a deeply challenging
insight. "Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them, when a
person from you will offer up a sacrifice to G-d...." - G-d wants
us, not just our sacrifices. Every sacrifice had to be accompanied by
genuine repentance before it was accepted.
In
fact, every sacrifice had to be accompanied by genuine repentance before
it was accepted. The priest was able to tell if the person was sincere
in his feelings. If not, he would signal to the administering Levites
to sing a soul-stirring melody that would arouse the sacrificer to genuine
repentance. Only then would the sacrifice be acceptable.
Only
when one gives up something of himself does he make a sacrifice that is
pleasing to G-d.
The
priest shall burn the entire animal on the altar as a complete fire offering,
a pleasing fragrance to G-d." (Lev. 1:9)
Is
it possible that the Torah would have us believe that the stench of burning
animal flesh, bones and feathers is a pleasant fragrance? Yet when the
offering is brought with the appropriate intentions of humility and teshuva,
then, to G-d the smell is indeed fragrant. What seems offensive to us
may indeed be a pleasing fragrance for G-d.
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[Based
on sources in Chasidut and Kabbalah; first published in B'Ohel Hatzadikim,
Vayikra 5760]
Rabbi
Binyomin Adilman is the former head of the Nishmas Chayim Yeshiva
in Jerusalem. Back issues of his weekly parsha sheet, B'ohelei Tzadikim,
from which this article was taken, may be found on www.nishmas.org.
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