Chabura 5783 Parshat Shemini: What Do We Mean When We Want To Know The Meaning Behind Korbanot

Many precepts in our Law are the result of a similar course adopted by the same Supreme Being. It is, namely, impossible to go suddenly from one extreme to the other: it is therefore according to the nature of man impossible for him suddenly to discontinue everything to which he has been accustomed. Now God sent Moses to make [the Israelites] a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exod. 19:6) by means of the knowledge of God. Comp. “Unto thee it was showed that thou mightest know that the Lord is God (Deut. 4:35); “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord is God” (ibid. 5:39). The Israelites were commanded to devote themselves to His service; comp. “and to serve him with all your heart” (ibid. 11:13); “and you shall serve the Lord your God” (Exod. 23:25); “and ye shall serve him” (Deut. 13:5). But the custom which was in those days general among all men, and the general mode of worship in which the Israelites were brought up, consisted in sacrificing animals in those temples which contained certain images, to bow down to those images, and to burn incense before them; religious and ascetic persons were in those days the persons that were devoted to the service in the temples erected to the stars, as has been explained by us. It was in accordance with the wisdom and plan of God, as displayed in the whole Creation, that He did not command us to give up and to discontinue all these manners of service; for to obey such a commandment it would have been contrary to the nature of man, who generally cleaves to that to which he is used; it would in those days have made the same impression as a prophet would make at present if he called us to the service of God and told us in His name, that we should not pray to Him, not fast, not seek His help in time of trouble; that we should serve Him in thought, and not by any action.

§ The mishna taught that Beit Shammai say: The burnt-offering of appearance, brought by a pilgrim when he appears at the Temple on a Festival, must be worth at least two silver coins, and the Festival peace-offering must be worth at least one silver ma’a coin. And Beit Hillel say: The burnt-offering of appearance must be worth at least one silver ma’a and the Festival peace-offering at least two silver coins. The Sages taught in a baraita that Beit Shammai say: The burnt-offering of appearance must be worth two silver coins, and the Festival peace-offering need be worth only one silver ma’a. The reason the burnt-offering must be worth more is that the burnt-offering of appearance goes up entirely to God, which is not so with regard to the Festival peace-offering, as parts of a peace-offering are eaten by its owner while other portions are consumed by the priests. And furthermore, another reason for this difference is that we find with regard to the festival of Assembly, i.e., Shavuot, that the verse includes more burnt-offerings than peace-offerings. The sacrificial requirement consists of one bull, two rams, and seven sheep as burnt-offerings, but only two sheep for peace-offerings. And Beit Hillel say: The burnt-offering of appearance must be worth one silver ma’a and the Festival peace-offering must be worth two silver coins. The reason for this difference is that the Festival peace-offering existed before the speech of God, i.e., before the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, which is not so with regard to the mitzva of appearance. And furthermore, another reason is that we find with regard to the offerings of the princes during the dedication of the Tabernacle that the verse includes more peace-offerings than burnt-offerings. Each prince brought one cow, a ram, and a sheep as burnt-offerings, but two cows, two rams, five goats, and five sheep as peace-offerings. The Gemara asks: And Beit Hillel, what is the reason that they do not say in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai? Beit Hillel would respond to both claims of Beit Shammai. With regard to that which you said, that the burnt-offering of appearance is superior because it goes up entirely to God, on the contrary, the Festival peace-offering is superior, as it has two consumptions, by God on the altar and by people. And with regard to that which you said that we derive this halakha from the festival of Assembly, i.e., Shavuot, one could argue instead that one should derive the halakhot of the offering of an individual from another offering of an individual, i.e., the princes; and one does not derive the halakhot of the offering of an individual from the communal offering of Shavuot. The Gemara asks the reverse question: And what is the reason that Beit Shammai do not say in accordance with the opinion of Beit Hillel? Beit Shammai would respond to the arguments of Beit Hillel: With regard to that which you said, that the Festival peace-offering is superior, as it existed before the speech of God, the burnt-offering of appearance also existed before the speech. According to the opinion of Beit Shammai, the Jewish people sacrificed burnt-offerings at Mount Sinai before the giving of the Torah. And with regard to that which you said, that one derives the halakhot of these offerings from the offerings of the princes, one could argue that one derives the halakhot of a matter that is performed in all generations, i.e., the value of the different Festival offerings, from another matter that is performed in all generations, i.e., the offerings brought on Shavuot. However, one does not derive the halakhot of a matter that is performed in all generations from a matter that is not performed in all generations, as the offerings of the princes was a specific mitzva for the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The Gemara asks: And according to the opinion of Beit Hillel, what is different about the Festival peace-offering, that it existed before the speech of God, as it is written: “And they sacrificed peace-offerings of bulls to the Lord” (Exodus 24:5)? The burnt-offering of appearance is also mentioned, as isn’t it written in the same verse: “And they sacrificed burnt-offerings”? The Gemara responds: Beit Hillel hold that the burnt-offering that the Jewish people sacrificed in the desert at Mount Sinai was the daily burnt-offering, which is a communal offering, as there were no individual burnt-offerings before the giving of the Torah. And Beit Shammai hold that the burnt-offering that the Jewish people sacrificed in the desert at Mount Sinai was a burnt-offering of appearance, which is an individual offering.

Source of all energy and power! Who could possibly duplicate Your mighty works? You constructed chambers above the cold waters, and placed the globe in space. When the world was filled with total darkness You wrapped yourself in Your garment, radiating with morning light. You divided the impetuous waters with an awesome, crystal-like sky; and gathered them into the depths so they would not cover the dry land. You uncovered the surface of the earth, and brought forth vegetation. You planted a garden in the East for those who praise you. Great luminaries You placed in the sky along with host of stars and constellations; which You commanded [to illuminate the world]. An abundance of swimming creatures [fish] and flying creatures [birds etc.] You created from the palm of Your hand; and the Leviathan which You reserved for the feast of Torah scholars. The congealed ground brought forth insects and animals; the wild-ox dwelling in swamps and reeds You reserved for the meal of the righteous. You prepared food and drink even before there was anyone to feast. You then formed man from clay in the likeness of Your image and breathed into him a pure soul from your “Zevul.” You caused him to sleep, and from his side You fashioned a helpmate for him. You commanded him not to eat from the tree of knowledge. He foolishly violated Your command, because he was enticed by the snake. He was punished that only by the sweat of his brow would he gain his sustenance. Woman [was punished] with painful childbirth and the cunning [snake] would forever eat dirt. You congealed his [Adam's] seed in the womb of she [Eve] who desired him. She became pregnant and gave birth to a farmer and a shepherd. They brought You a sacrifice and a gift. You were angered with that of the oldest, but pleased with the offering of the youngest. Without mercy, he [Cain] killed Abel He pleaded for Your forgiveness, and You set a saving mark upon him. At the third generation of man, people began to worship You through idols. The dreaded flood waters, You summoned, and they were drowned and destroyed. An arrogant generation erred and dared tell You to go away. They were tossed about by the boiling water; they were burned and scalded. Noah, who was commanded to build an ark, an ark of gopher-wood, was delivered when You enclosed him within. His sons, You made fruitful and they filled the face of the earth. A united people conspired to build a tower unto the heavens. They were entrapped by their evil action, and were scattered about the earth as if by a violent wind. Your loved one [Avraham] who came “across the river,” made famous Your Name in the world. The son of his old age, [Yitzchak] he offered to You in sacrifice. Like a perfect, unblemished lamb Yaakov was chosen; he who was without blemish. He desired to sit in tents and followed you. Righteous children You brought forth from him, all of whom stayed true to their heritage, none ever deviating. To serve You, You desired Levi, Your pious one. From his tribe, You chose one [Aharon] to be Your holiest; to wear the holy mitre and the Urim VeTumim, and to dwell inside the Tabernacle for seven days. Upholders of the Jewish faith, [The Sanhedrin], a week before the tenth day [of Tishrei], secluded the High Priest as was done in the seven days after the completion of the Mishkan. They sprinkled upon him water mixed with the ashes of red heifers in order to purify him. [Each of the seven days] he sprinkled the blood of the daily sacrifices, burned the incense [upon the golden altar in the Sanctuary,] and cleaned away the ashes, [from the wicks of the Menorah], [he did these things] to acquaint himself with the daily service. As it was written in Your Torah: As it was done on this day, Adonoy commanded that it be done to atone for you.