ב"ה
A MAN WHO SHALL BRING FROM YOU AN OFFERING TO G-D...
(VAYIKRA 1:2)
The significance the Torah attributes to animal sacrifice is mystifying. Why would the physical slaughter and burning of an animal be our primary form of divine worship (see Avos 1:2; Yerushalmi, Taanis 4:1)? Would a more spiritual exercise, in which the Jew's attachment to G-d is sensed and experienced, not be more suitable as the focal point of the Temple service?
In truth, the significance of the sacrifices lies precisely in their seeming lack of spiritual experience. The Torah's word for sacrifice is korban, from the word karov, "close," indicating that the purpose of the sacrifices is toarouse and express the Jewish people's inherent"closeness" to G-d—a closeness that even transcends the attachment we develop through observing His commands.
As such, we can understand why the sacrifices atone for transgressions of the Torah: a sacrifice reveals the Jew's essential and unbreakable bond with G-d, thereby repairing any deficiency in their relationship caused by a breach of Torah observance.
This closeness could not be adequately expressed in a service that highlights the Jew's unique spiritual capacities, for this essential bond with G-d is not contingent on the Jew's efforts and experience; it is purely the result of G-d's existential choice of His beloved nation.
The unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and G-d is therefore best expressed through a Jew offering a korban, thespiritualvalue of which is not obvious, save for the fact thatG-d has deemed it desirable for a Jew to offer a sacrifice to Him. —Likutei Sichos, vol. 22, pp. 3-4
No comments:
Post a Comment