The Best and Finest

	ב"ה כָּל חֵלֶב לַה' (ויקרא ג, טז) ALL FAT IS TO G-D. (VAYIKRA 3:16)  When an animal is offered as a sacrifice, its premium fats—the choicest parts of its flesh—are burned on the altar. The Rambam (Issurei Mizbeiach 7:11) interprets this as a universal principle: “The same applies to everything done for the sake of G-d—it must be of the finest and best. When one builds a house of prayer, it should be finer than his private dwelling. When he feeds the hungry, he should give them the best and sweetest of his table. When he clothes the naked, he should give him the finest of his garments. When consecrating an object to the Temple, he should give the finest of his possessions. And so it is written, ‘All the fat is to G-d.’” The Talmud (Shabbos 133b) teaches a similar principle, yet from a different source in the Torah, and with an entirely different set of examples: “‘This is my G-d, and I will beautify Him’ (Shemos 15:2). This means, beautify yourself before G-d in mitzvos. Make before Him a beautiful sukkah, a beautiful lulav, a beautiful shofar, beautiful tzitzis and a beautiful Torah scroll.” While the Talmud speaks of beautifyingyour observance, the Rambam implies that by bringing an offering of superior quality, you enhance the value and effectiveness of the sacrifice itself. The Talmud’s principle is therefore applicable regardless of the status conferred on the object through its use in the performance of a mitzvah. The sukkah, lulav, shofar, tzitzisand Torah scroll are not “given” to G-d; they remain in your personal possession. Yet by performing G-d’s commands in a beautiful manner, you bring additional splendor to G-d, Whom you are serving. The Rambam, however, speaks only of instances comparable to sacrifices, such as donations to the Beis Hamikdash or gifts to the poor, in which you are parting with the object itself and offering it to G-d. The emphasis is therefore on the object being consecrated. When “all the fat is to G-d”—i.e., your gifts are the choicest and finest possible—then not only is your observance beautiful, but the offering itself is more complete. —Likutei Sichos, vol. 27, pp. 10-14