בס”ד
PARSHAT VAYIKRA 5784
The Torah portion of this week deals, among other things, with the sin offering, “karban chatat”. This offering was required of Israel for unintentional sins. In broad terms, we see that a specific animal is offered to the Eternal in a particular manner. For example, the blood is sprinkled before the veil, smeared on the horns of the altar, and the entire animal is burned.
Four scenarios are described, summarized schematically as follows:
- Priest: Young unblemished bull
- Member of the Sanhedrin: Young unblemished bull
- Prince of the people: Young unblemished male goat
- Common individual: Young unblemished female goat
Unintentional sins lie between intentional sins (where one consciously commits a wrongdoing) and involuntary sins (such as reflexes or coercion). Intentional sins cannot be atoned for by an offering, and involuntary sins do not require an offering.
There are various interpretations as to why Jews must give a sin offering. One suggests that bringing an offering must compel one to see the animalistic aspect of oneself in the slaughtered animal. Unintentional sins can then be understood as actions performed without thought, on an animalistic level. By offering the animal, one symbolically shows a desire to rid oneself of actions at this level. The blood, representing life, is brought to the altar, while burning the animal symbolizes bringing the fire of piety into the world. This process aims not only for self-improvement but also to inspire the world to serve the Eternal in the right way.
Leviticus 1:2 reads:
2Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When a man from [among] you brings a sacrifice to the Lord; from animals, from cattle or from the flock you shall bring your sacrifice. | בדַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אָדָ֗ם כִּי־יַקְרִ֥יב מִכֶּ֛ם קָרְבָּ֖ן לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה מִן־הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה מִן־הַבָּקָר֙ וּמִן־הַצֹּ֔אן תַּקְרִ֖יבוּ אֶת־קָרְבַּנְכֶֽם: |
The word “any one” in Hebrew is “Adam” אָדָ֗ם. When bringing an offering to the Eternal, one must follow Adam’s example. His offerings were flawless, free from any form of dishonesty. They could not deceive or be used to demonstrate superiority over others. He gave the best, in the most honest way.
Non-Jews do not need a sin or guilt offering to receive forgiveness, as illustrated by the story of Nineveh. The people asked for forgiveness and were forgiven. See Jona 3:9-10
9Whoever knows shall repent, and G-d will relent, and He will return from His burning wrath, and we will not perish. | טמִֽי־יוֹדֵ֣עַ יָשׁ֔וּב וְנִחַ֖ם הָֽאֱלֹקים וְשָׁ֛ב מֵֽחֲר֥וֹן אַפּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד: | |
| 10And G-d saw their deeds, that they had repented of their evil way, and the Lord relented concerning the evil that He had spoken to do to them, and He did not do it. | יוַיַּ֚רְא הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־מַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־שָׁ֖בוּ מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם הָֽרָעָ֑ה וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם הָֽאֱלֹקים עַל־הָֽרָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת־לָהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א עָשָֽׂה: |
The story of Nineveh illustrates that animal sacrifices are not necessary for non-Jews to receive forgiveness. The people asked for forgiveness and were forgiven (read the book of Jonah). Also for Jews, animal offerings are not always necessary for forgiveness. Consider King David after he sinned with Bathsheba and asked for and received forgiveness, see II Samuel 12:13
13And David said to Nathan: “I have sinned against the L-rd.” And Nathan said to David, “Also the Lord has removed your sin; you shall not die. | יגוַיֹּ֚אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־נָתָ֔ן חָטָ֖אתִי לַֽי”הֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר נָתָ֜ן אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד גַּם־יְהֹוָ֛ה הֶעֱבִ֥יר חַטָּאתְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תָמֽוּת: |
In short, in prayer, we must be honest with the Eternal, naming the things we do without thinking, thereby learning to understand, control, and, where necessary, kill our animal instincts. This elevates our soul and brings us closer to the Eternal. Our soul comes closer because we increasingly realize that one must think before acting, a lesson in being human.
When our soul comes closer to the Eternal, it wants to be forgiven for the wrong choices it has made. Asking for forgiveness is done by confessing aloud to G-d what you have done wrong, promising not to make these wrong choices in the future, and, where possible, cleaning up the mess you have made. In addition, when asking for forgiveness, it is good to give Tsedaka – charity.
That giving Tsedaka forgives transgressions, for example, is seen in:
Hosea 14:2-3
2Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity. | בשׁוּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֥י כָשַׁ֖לְתָּ בַּֽעֲוֹנֶֽךָ: | |
| 3Take words with yourselves and return to the Lord. Say, “You shall forgive all iniquity and teach us [the] good [way], and let us render [for] bulls [the offering of] our lips. | גקְח֚וּ עִמָּכֶם֙ דְּבָרִ֔ים וְשׁ֖וּבוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה אִמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו כָּל־תִּשָּׂ֚א עָוֹן֙ וְקַח־ט֔וֹב וּנְשַׁלְּמָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים שְׂפָתֵֽינוּ: |
Isaiah 55:7
7The wicked shall give up his way, and the man of iniquity his thoughts, and he shall return to the L-rd, Who shall have mercy upon him, and to our G-d, for He will freely pardon. | זיַֽעֲזֹ֚ב רָשָׁע֙ דַּרְכּ֔וֹ וְאִ֥ישׁ אָ֖וֶן מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֑יו וְיָשֹׁ֚ב אֶל־יְ”הֹוָה֙ וִירַֽחֲמֵ֔הוּ וְאֶל־אֱלֹקינוּ כִּֽי־יַרְבֶּ֥ה לִסְלֽוֹחַ: |
In addition to confessing sins and praying to the Eternal, giving Tsedaka is a means of obtaining reconciliation for sins, as written in Proverbs 11:4 and Proverbs 21:3:
4Riches will not avail on the day of wrath, but charity will save from death. | דלֹא־יוֹעִ֣יל ה֖וֹן בְּי֣וֹם עֶבְרָ֑ה וּ֜צְדָקָ֗ה תַּצִּ֥יל מִמָּֽוֶת: |
3Performing charity and justice is preferred by G-d to a sacrifice. | געֲשׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַי”הוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח: |
The story of Nineveh illustrates that animal sacrifices are not necessary for non-Jews to receive forgiveness. The people asked for forgiveness and were forgiven (read the book of Jonah). Also for Jews, animal sacrifices are not always necessary for forgiveness. Consider King David after he sinned with Bathsheba and asked for and received forgiveness.
Learning Points
- Significance of Offerings: Clarifies the purpose and symbolism of offerings in Judaism, particularly focusing on the sin offering “karban chatat” for atoning unintended sins.
- Importance of Confession and Repentance: Emphasizes the crucial role of confession, repentance, and seeking G-d’s forgiveness as integral aspects of spiritual growth and relationship with the Almighty.
- Forgiveness and Charity: Highlights the belief that forgiveness can be attained through genuine repentance and acts of charity (Tsedaka), as illustrated in biblical stories and passages, including the story of Nineveh in the book of Jonah.
By Angelique Sijbolts
Sources
The Sin Offering by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
How Annimal Offerings Help Us Tap Into the Divine Presence by Rabbi Avi Geller
The Meaning of Sacrifice by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis
The Divine Code byRabbijn Moshe Weiner
Lets Get Biblical Part 1 by Rabbijn Tovia Singer.
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