Vayikra Summaries
Vayikra 5770-2010"Do Leaders Corrupt, or are They Corrupted?" The first sin offering that is recorded in parashat Vayikra is the offering of the anointed priest. Regarding this sacrifice, an unresolved dispute comes to the surface, raising the issue of whether it is the leaders who lead the people astray or whether leaders are corrupted by their followers. |
Vayikra 5769-2009"Shlamim: Expressing Wholehearted Gratitude" The Shlamim sacrifice, or Peace offering, plays a central role in the Jewish sacrificial rite. Although sacrifices are no longer offered today, their inherent symbolic meanings are still quite cogent. The ability to express gratitude for no particular reason, but merely because one is satisfied with one’s life, is a feeling that is vitally important for people to articulate. |
Vayikra 5768-2008"Infallibility in Judaism"
In parashat Vayikra we learn of the sin offerings of the High Priest and the King of Israel. These sin offerings imply the fallibility of the nation’s great leaders and serve as a message of hope for the common people, that while everyone is subject to sin, all can repent and repair themselves. It is a breathtakingly refreshing message. Link to full |
Vayikra 5767-2007"Balancing Heart and Mind" |
Vayikra 5766-2006"Eternal Lessons from Ancient Sacrifices "
Is there anything meaningful or relevant that can be learned from the ancient rituals of animal sacrifice? A remarkable law found in the obscure details of a poor person's burnt offering serves as a window to many similar lessons of sensitivity that proliferate throughout Jewish law and practice. Link to full |
Vayikra 5765-2005 "The 'Sacrifice' That Lasts Forever " |
Vayikra 5764-2004" Insights for the Contemporary Soul
from Ancient 'Primitive' Rituals " As we begin Vayikra, the book of the Torah pertaining to the priestly service and the Temple sacrifices, we see how relevant these ancient laws are to our lives, even in contemporary times. The mandatory sacrifice brought after an unintentional sin, demonstrates that the root to repentance is awakening from apathy. Link to full |
Vayikra 5763-2003 The highly acclaimed young scholar, Rabbi Meir Y. Soloveichik penned an essay in the Christian theological journal, Present Tense, entitled The Virtue of Hate. Although Soloveichik’s arguments are technically correct, he fails to put these valid arguments within proper context. Judaism in fact does theological somersaults in order to find merit even for the hardcore wicked. |
Vayikra 5762-2002 Among the many profound lessons that the Mincha offering teaches, is that Judaism is not the religion of the wealthy. In fact, Judaism provides venues of expression and of worship for all the people of Israel, rich and poor, young and old, male and female alike. The Mincha offering specifically teaches that one must give with a full heart. |
Vayikra 5761-2001 Moses’ commitment to serve as G-d’s messenger was thorough and complete. It was therefore no accident that G-d spoke to him, or through him. It was not a happening and not a coincidence. It was the very essence of Moses’ life and the ultimate purpose of his being. It was his calling. |
Vayikra 5760-2000 For mortals, it’s not easy to maintain a sense of gratitude for the constant miracles that are part of our everyday existence. The Sh’lamim, the Peace Offering, enables us to express our gratitude to G-d at all times, and not just to cry out and denounce G-d when things are wrong or uncomfortable. It’s easy to complain about the bad; it’s far more difficult to say “Thank You” for the good. |