Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov
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בס“ד Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov Parshat Vayikra 6 Adar II , 5771/March 12, 2011 Vol.2 Num. 28 Korbanot: It’s The Thought That Counts R’ Mordechai Torczyner Feeling like an astronaut does not and practice? Sanhedrin 106b, rachmana liba ba’ey, mean I‘ve been to the moon, and One answer may emerge from the Hashem desires the heart. The goal of studying the laws of Lulav is not Rambam‘s discussion of why Hashem the korban is to bring us closer to Gd; halachically equal to picking up a decreed the existence of korbanot, at absent that goal, the korban itself is palm branch and waving it. When all. Rambam was troubled by meaningless. [Of course, this dealing with korbanot, though, it Yirmiyahu‘s declaration (7:22-23), ―For emphasis upon the heart does not seems that feeling = doing. on the day I removed your fathers from render the korban ritual meaningless; Vayyikra Rabbah (7:3) illustrates this Egypt, I did not speak to them and I viduy without a korban chatat is as point, saying, ―Since you involve did not command them regarding meaningless as a korban chatat yourselves in studying them, I burnt offerings and celebration without viduy. Nonetheless, the consider it as though you had actually sacrifices. Only this did I instruct them, thought is essential to the korban.] brought them.‖ This message is saying: Hear My voice and I will be We see evidence of the importance of reminiscent of Hosheia‘s surprising your G-d, and you will be My nation.‖ our feelings in the names that the statement, as explained in Yoma 86b, Yirmiyahu seems to say that Hashem Torah and our sages used to identify that reciting the pesukim of the does not desire korbanot - but the the korbanot themselves. Whereas korbanot is considered equivalent to Torah itself, and particularly Sefer ritual mitzvot are often named for the performing their rituals. Vayyikra, is testimony to the contrary! objects they employ – Matzah, Lulav, Similarly, the Mateh Ephraim (621:10) Rambam (Moreh haNevuchim 3:32) Menorah – the korbanot are primarily says that one should study, in advance explained that Yirmiyahu was trying to named for the emotions and thoughts of Yom Kippur, the version of the teach us the importance of the thought they represent: Chatat [sin-offering], Avodah which matches the version in that accompanies, and validates, a Asham [guilt-offering], Todah [thanks the Avodah poem he will read on korban. ―The primary object is that -offering], Shelamim [peace-offering], musaf of Yom Kippur. you should know Me and serve no Neder and Nedavah [voluntary vows This idea is most unusual within other, and I will be your Gd and you to Gd]. [The korbanot which do not Judaism‘s view of mitzvah fulfillment, will be My nation. I instructed you in all follow this model – such as Pesach, though. We do not apply this concept of these rituals in My Name, until the Bechor, Maaser – tend to involve of ―study = fulfillment‖ to any other name of idolatry would be erased and other mitzvot beyond the korban temporarily inaccessible mitzvah, the principle of My Oneness would itself.] such as Hakhel or Mechiyyat Amalek. remain, so that this principle would Perhaps this is why we can, in the How do we understand the korban- endure in your hands.‖ temporary absence of a Beit specific equation between recitation In other words, to borrow from haMikdash, study about the korbanot and merit Divine credit as though we had brought those offerings Parshah Questions R’ Meir Lipschitz ourselves. If the korban‘s primary element is its thought and emotion, Answers are provided on the back page. and the secondary element, its ritual, Why was salt supposed to be added to a korban, while honey was not allowed? is unavailable, then our engagement (Rashi, Ramban, and Netziv to Vayikra 2:11-13) in the primary piece may suffice for Why does the Torah use the word ―asher‖ rather than the more common ―im‖ when now. describing the transgression and korban of a Nasi (leader)? May Gd‘s will be that we soon see the (Rashi, Siftei Chachomim, Ba‘al HaTurim, Ramban, Seforno, and Netziv to Vayikra 4:22) re-building of the Beit haMikdash and Why does the Torah use the term ―nefesh‖ when describing the sin-offering, as opposed to the term ―adam‖ which had been used previously? the restoration of our korbanot in both (Ramban, Ohr HaChaim, Rabbeinu Bachaye, Alshich, Mincha Belulah, and Tzror Hamor ritual and emotion, the primary and to Vayikra 4:2) secondary elements united once again in the Land of Israel in our ?א written with a small ויקרא For children: Why is the opening word (Ba‘al HaTurim Vayikra 1:1) [email protected] service of Hashem. To sponsor a Toronto Torah in memory or in honour of a loved one for $180, please email [email protected] or call 416-781-1777. The Spirit of Purim R’ Herschel Schachter The Rabbis of the Talmud have the rabbis is assumed to have been Hashem leyereiov." It becomes recorded (Shabbos 88a) the tradition divinely inspired, and therefore has understandable that halachos are that although the Jewish people been endowed with doraisa status. The developed by the rabbis with the yad accepted the Torah at Mt. Sinai out of verse in Tehilim (25,14) that G-d Hashem guiding them. This is what the their own free will, there was, reveals his secrets to those who fear Torah Shebaal Peh was always about. nevertheless, an aspect of coercion him is quoted several times in the Now that the Jewish people had involved. After the miracle of Purim, Talmud to bring out this point. accepted that part of the Torah again the people accepted the Torah again, This is in no way a contradiction to the without any coercion, this segment of this time without any element of principal developed by the rabbis that halacha was able to flourish and to coercion. Today when we observe "lo bashamayim hi" (see Bava Metzia develop in a much greater fashion Purim, one of the themes being 59b) – that after mattan torah G-d will than ever before. Indeed, the greatest celebrated is this second accepting of no longer reveal any halachos to man part of the development of the Torah the Torah. According to the Geonim, in a supernatural fashion, i.e. through Shebaal Peh took place, historically, this is the reason that Purim alone was prophecy, and any bas kol proclaiming after the days of Purim (see Be’Ikvei singled out from all the other holidays a halachah must be disregarded. Of Hatzon p.138, 114). instituted by the Rabbis (and course G-d expects us to work out the recorded in the Megillas Taanis) to The Shlah, in his essay on Purim, halacha. At the same time, He has have a mitzva of seuda (eating a festive points to the posuk in the megillah promised to assist the rabbis – from meal). Just like on Shavuos the Talmud (8:14) "vehados nitnah beshushan behind the scenes – in their tells us (Pesachim 68b) that all agree habirah", as an allusion to the concept deliberations to see to it that they do that one must have an elaborate meal that the Torah was being reaccepted. not err. The binding force of any psak as part of the commemoration of our The traditional festive Purim meal is of any rabbi is based on the accepting the Torah, so to Purim must eaten to celebrate this reacceptance assumption that the individual posek be celebrated with an elaborate meal and should be eaten with such an was granted this supernatural divine for this same reason. attitude. Becoming drunk and rowdy assistance. simply does not fit in with the correct According to the Medrash, the Bnei Yisroel at the time of mattan Torah attitude which should pervade the element of coercion at the time of apparently found it hard to accept this Purim observance. Purim is not the maaamad Har Sinai that necessitated concept (see Meerot Neryah p. 16a). At Jewish Halloween. The custom of the later second acceptance was the time of the nes Purim a group of putting on masks, and dressing up to regarding the Torah She’beal Peh. The rabbis known as the Anshei Knesses conceal one‘s true identity was never Jews were fully prepared to accept Hagedolah was setting all the forms of intended to represent a Jewish Mardi- G-d‘s written Torah, since it was religious observance as they are still Gras; but rather to show that just as in clearly of divine origin. But the bulk of being observed today, two thousand the story of Purim, one had to look the Oral Law consists of laws classified years later (brachos, tefilos, categories below the surface to see the hidden as "divrei sofrim", laws developed by of halacha). The Jews realized that the Mover behind the events, so too in the rabbis over the generations, yad Hashem was involved in the story Torah study, one must always look which have the status of dinim doraisa. from behind the scenes. They came to below the surface, and read in- The discretion and the judgement of understand well the concept of "sod between the lines to gain the insights of the Torah Shebaal Peh, which will actually place everything in the Torah 613 Mitzvot: Mitzvah 85 in the proper perspective. The custom of masquerading is to teach us, "al Creating Shabbat tistakel bekankan elah bemah sheyesh bo!", (Never look at the outer but ,קרבן חטאת In addition to the biblical prohibition prohibition warrants a appearance of the container.