Parshat Acharei Mot Shabbat Hagadol No 1062: ר
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Parshat Acharei Mot Shabbat Hagadol No 1062: 14 Nissan 5765 (April 23, 2005) STARTING POINT curtain. And he shall do to the blood what he did to the blood Blood and the Soul - by Rabbi Amnon Bazak of the bull, let him sprinkle it on the curtain and in front of the curtain. And he will atone for the holy site from the impurities The Torah commands every man "who slaughters an ox, a of Bnei Yisrael and from their sins..." [16:15-16]. sheep, or a goat" [Vayikra 17:3] within the camp or outside not to do so unless he offers it as a sacrifice to G-d. The This also explains why there is a difference between the blood commentaries do not agree if this specifically refers to an of a domesticated animal and that of a wild one, since the latter animal which has been set aside as a sacrifice or if it includes is never brought as a sacrifice, and the blood of a bird, which is animals that are simply meant to be eaten. The simplest not sprinkled on the Altar (see, for example, Vayikra 1, 5, 11, approach would seem to be that of the Ramban. He feels that and 15). The Torah permitted slaughtering wild animals and the prohibition is valid for all meat, and that the animals must birds for everyday needs even in the desert, since their blood be offered as a Shelamim sacrifice, in which case some of the was in any case not used for atonement. Since the blood is flesh is eaten by the owner. Later on, when Bnei Yisrael were linked to the "soul," the Torah commanded that it must be about to enter Eretz Yisrael, the Torah permitted eating meat covered by earth and not eaten (17:13-14), but there is no that is not related to a sacrifice (Devarim 12:20-21). Why was it problem in killing a wild animal or a bird for private use. forbidden to slaughter animals that were not sanctified while the nation was in the desert? POINT OF VIEW The Torah gives two reasons for this law. "If he does not bring Is There a Crisis in Religious Zionism? - by Rabbi Yisrael it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to offer it as a Rozen sacrifice to G-d in the Tabernacle: (1) This will be considered blood with respect to that man, he has spilled blood, and he Who is in a Crisis? will be cut off from his nation; (2) In order that Bnei Yisrael bring the sacrifices that they offer on the fields to G-d, at the We noted above that there is a feeling of crisis. I hear such entrance to the Tent of Meeting, to the Kohen." [17:4-5]. The declarations as "a crisis in Religious Zionism," sounds of a "loss second reason is clear. It implies that the purpose of the of faith," echoes of wondering whether we "are following the prohibition is to avoid idol worship. This is explicitly stated in right path." Others are raising the possibility that we are in a the following verse, "And let them no longer offer their period of "retreat of the redemption." Is all of this true? sacrifices to the demons towards which they turn" [17:7]. However, the first reason given above is somewhat As far as I am concerned, the worst crisis that we face here and problematic. Is killing an animal for the purpose of food to be now is not the personal suffering of the people to be expelled considered spilling blood? Weren't Noah and his sons given from their homes. I do not belittle the seriousness of the permission to eat meat (see Bereishit 9:3)? personal and family tragedies and the frightful consequences of the coming crisis on a personal and community level. However, Evidently the first reason is not based on a vegetarian approach as one who has spent my entire life preaching that general to life, which was appropriate for Adam but not Noah, but needs take precedence over personal ones, in the spirit of the rather is related to what we are taught further on in this chapter teachings of Rabbi A.Y. Kook, I must remain true to my view with respect to the prohibition of eating blood: "For the soul of and look at the developing process from the point of view of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the Altar the community as a whole. The saying that "trouble shared by to atone for your souls. For blood atones for the soul." [17:11]. the community is a partial solace" does not refer only to The blood of an animal is a tool to be used for atonement, and psychological comfort, as if to say, "I am the same as everybody it is not proper to use such important material for a purpose This issue of Shabbat B’Shabbato that is not holy. That is the reason that this command was only given after the Tabernacle and the Altar were constructed, since is sponsored לז"נ before the existence of the Altar the blood of an animal did not yet have such spiritual significance. In view of this approach, it מרת הנא בת ר' מרדכי מנדל אלינער is clear why this prohibition appears at this point, since in the ר' עוזר בן ר' שאול אלינער ,previous chapter we were taught about the power of mankind הרב שמעון בן ר' זכריה סמנע in the form of the rituals performed by the High Priest on Yom ר Kippur – "And he shall slaughter the goat of the Chatat belonging to the people and bring its blood to the area of the 2 else." (I have seen this quoted in a book of responsa, "Chaim parts of the nation that dwells in Zion. If this no longer exists, Bayad," in the name of "the sages," but I have not been able to or if it is replaced by a secular "existence," the seeds of division find a direct source for the quote.) It requires us to recognize will have appeared. that the community often overshadows the individual and his needs. Thus, personal grief may be swallowed up and absorbed Religious Zionism will be in a "crisis" as long as it continues to into the nationwide distress that we are experiencing at the consider itself a bridge between different sectors. The "bridge" current time. will remain floating in the air if both banks on which it rests withdraw and retreat. If instead of this we continue to have I do not accept the thesis that the world of religious Zionism is faith in our own internal truths - national Zionism, a Zionism in a state of total disintegration, even taking into account the of settlements, and a Zionism of redemption – we will not be in trepidation of some marginal elements who voice their doubts a crisis. We can continue on our path, alone or accompanied by about the correctness of our path. I do not fear a weakening of others. faith, collapse, or complete loss of the faith of our youth, as I NOTE: Do you know the source of the famous declaration, do not expect anybody to "divorce himself from the State of "In every generation everybody must see himself as if he was Israel," G-d forbid. As far as I can see, the fears voiced by redeemed from Egypt"? Here is a quote from the Midrash: "It some rabbis and educators are greatly exaggerated, and this is is written, 'he rescued our houses (that is, in every generation)...' what has created an atmosphere of crisis in religious Zionism. This means that in every generation a man must see himself as In the oppressive political air of intimidation, warning, and if he was redeemed from Egypt." [Pesikta Zutrata Shemot threats, all in the shrillest possible tones, we should not be 12:27]. Every generation needs its houses to be rescued... surprised that the angry prophets of the Apocalypse can see a future with "the end of the path of religious Zionism." Let us console ourselves with the memory that even at the time of the Exodus from Egypt not everybody went along The real and very dangerous crisis, as far as I am concerned, is wholeheartedly. Even then some of the people worshipped the a crisis of Zionism in general. Religious Zionism is not Golden Calf as a first choice. The sages taught us that the seeds involved! We seem to be near the end of the general era of of the "religion of the calf" joined the nation when they were Zionism – involving settlements, security, and general political redeemed from Egypt. "Idol worship passed through the sea objectives. Uprooting the Gaza Strip puts a seal of government together with the nation of Yisrael, as is written, 'the trouble approval on the post-Zionist approach, and shatters all of the will pass through the sea and make waves in the sea' [Zecharia previous Zionist values. 10:11]. Trouble refers to idol worship ... but in spite of this the sea split before them." [Tanchuma Re'eih 16]. "Lavan Wanted to Uproot Everything" SERMON BY A GUEST We still have not reached the worst element of all. It may not be such a terrible thing to have the citizens of a State of Tel Which is the Best One of the Four Sons? - by Rabbi Yosef Aviv living without any real Zionism and without any national Carmel, Head of Eretz Chemdah Institute values.