#vayikra

[girlactionfigure]

This week, we begin the Book of Vayikra with a #PieceofParasha on the idea behind the sacrifices. 

Check out the full idea: Here

Rabbi Benji

[sophieakatz]

Thursday Thoughts: Structure, Flexibility, and Torah

(I wrote this d’var for tomorrow’s Shabbat evening services. Turns out I won’t be leading services tomorrow after all - so I’m sharing it here instead!)

I love being a Jew. I see it as an active thing – BEING a Jew. Living a Jewish life, making Jewish choices, taking part in our rich, meaningful traditions and fulfilling the mitzvot of the Torah.

However, if I said that I was living a Jewish life in every possible way – making all Jewish choices, taking part in all our traditions, and fulfilling all mitzvot – that would be a lie.

Those of you who come to Shabbat services regularly on Friday nights know that you will nearly always find me here, now. However, if you also come on Saturday morning, then you know that you will almost never find me there, then. I bake challah, but I do not light Shabbat candles. I take time off from my day job on Jewish holidays when I can, but I’m not always able to. I eat kosher foods, but I do not have kosher dishes, since I share my kitchen with three people who do not keep kosher.

I do what I can. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not doing enough.

It’s easy to imagine that G-d might also think that I’m not doing enough. After all, there are 613 mitzvot in the Torah. If your boss gave you an employee handbook with 613 rules for employee conduct, then you would assume that this is a strict boss with a very structured work environment, someone who wants you to obey their instructions without fail or flexibility.

But this week’s parsha makes it clear that “obey without fail or flexibility” is not an entirely accurate description of G-d’s expectations for Jewish people.

This week we read Parshat Vayikra – the beginning of the book of Leviticus. Incidentally, Leviticus has 243 of the 613 mitzvot – more than any other book in the Torah.

(If you’re curious, second place goes to Deuteronomy at 203 mitzvot, Exodus comes in third at 109, Numbers is fourth at 56, and Genesis has only two.)

So, Leviticus is the Big Book of Rules, right? In Vayikra, the start of this book, there are a lot of rules about making offerings at the temple. These are sin offerings. A person would admit wrongdoing and atone for their sin by making the offering. In Leviticus chapter 5 verse 6, the Torah explains, “he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord for his sin which he had committed, a female from the flock, either a sheep or a goat, for a sin offering.”

But it doesn’t end there. The next verse, verse 7, reads “But if he cannot afford a sheep, he shall bring as his guilt offering for that [sin] that he had committed, two turtle doves or two young doves before the Lord.”

And then if we jump ahead a couple verses, to verse 11, the Torah reads, “But if he cannot afford two turtle doves or two young doves, then he shall bring as his sacrifice for his sin one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering.”

(An ephah is a unit of measurement here, and according to Google, it’s about the size of a bushel. So you would bring a tenth of a bushel of flour. I’m not sure exactly how big that is, but it doesn’t sound like much. Certainly it sounds less than a whole sheep.)

So – the commandment here, the mitzvah, is to make a sin offering. And through the Torah, G-d gives specific instructions about what to bring and what to do with it – you bring a sheep, and this is how you kill it. It’s a structure for atonement. But the Torah also provides exceptions or alternate options for this sin offering. If you can’t bring a sheep, bring two doves, and if you can’t bring two doves, bring some flour. The Torah provides structure, and it also provides different structures depending on your individual means.

In doing so, the Torah takes a behavior that could be very limited – something that only rich people could do, the people who could afford to give up an animal because they had plenty more to eat or breed – and turns it into something that anyone could do, within their means, in the way that works best for them. It’s flexible. It’s also encouraging in a way – having these different options for how to participate in the mitzvah makes the whole idea of making sin offerings feel more accessible for anyone.

And this ties in well with how I see and experience Judaism. It’s accessible for all of us. Yes, there’s structure. Judaism includes instructions for every part of our lives. And like I said before, it’s an active thing. I don’t think that you can really BE a Jew if you aren’t doing ANYTHING that’s Jewish.

But you don’t need to do EVERYTHING.

You don’t need to obey EVERY commandment in exactly the same way as everyone else in order to live a Jewish life, make Jewish choices, and participate in the Jewish community. G-d empowers all of us to show up when we can, and how we can, in the way that works best for us, to create a meaningful life as Jews. For me, tonight, that means standing up here in front of you, delivering this d’var. Last week, it meant sitting in the back row with my friends, and next week, it will mean traveling home to spend Passover with my family. And every week, every day, we get to make those Jewish choices, to create our Jewish life. Shabbat shalom.

[geostatonary]

we learn that frankincense is technically edible (don’t eat it) and how to open a bird like a cold one with the boys in this one. lotta gore given it’s about the rules of sacrifice.

[rickpoet]

We start a new book of the Torah this week. This poem is from my old book of poems from the Torah...but not as old as the original Book... Read along with the text at www.jewishpoetry.net/vayikra

[torais-life]

VAYIKRÁ - LEVITICOS 10-Parasha Ha Shavua 📜

[todaysjewishholiday]

24 Iyyar 5784 (31 May- 1 June 2024

Shabbat shalom! Today is the final Shabbat of the month of Iyyar. Have a peaceful and restful Shabbat. The parsha for this week is Bekhukotai, the final Torah portion in the book of Vayikra. It lay out a series of blessings for observing the mitzvot of Torah, and curses for rejecting them.

The twenty-fourth of Iyyar is also the fourth night of the sixth week of the Omer count. Yesterday was the thirty-eighth day of the Omer. After tonight’s count, 10 days remain before Shavuot.

[eretzyisrael]

AARON’S ABSENCE

Parsha Vayikra is all about korbanos, the animal and meal offerings brought in the Holy Temple. The Temple sacrifices are overseen by Aaron, the High Priest, but surprisingly Aaron’s name isn’t mentioned anywhere in the parsha. Rabbi Asher ben Yehiel (1250-1327) sees Aaron’s absence from Vayikra as a punishment for his active role in the sin of the golden calf. Recall that the Jewish people miscalculate Moses’ promised return from Mount Sinai and panic when he doesn't show up “on time.” Bereft, they demand that Aaron provide them with a new conduit to God. He tells them to bring their ornaments, then melts the jewelry down and creates a Golden Calf.

Medieval commentator Rashi explains that when Aaron sends the Jewish men to collect their wives' jewelry, it’s not because he wants to build an idol for them to worship, but rather to stall the frenzied mob until Moses returns. Another explanation is that Aaron, out of love for the Jewish people, decides that it is “better that the sin be placed on me than upon them.” All commentators agree that Aaron does not deliberately encourage idolatry, so does he really deserve punishment?

Several sources (Ramban, Ibn Ezra) explain that God punishes the righteous more harshly than He punishes other people. The greater a person is, the more is expected from him or her. This might seem unfair, until we understand that this world is merely an antechamber. The suffering we undergo here cleanses our souls, positioning us for a better spot in the World to Come. When faced with difficult trials, remember that suffering has a purpose! Rising to challenges in this world lifts us higher in the next.

Dedicated by Avi and Wanda Peretz

Image: Aaron the High Priest by William Etty, c. 1830

[cristianpaduraru]

Leviticus Explained

The book of Vayikra (HE Called) or Leviticus (GR Laws) is teaching how anointed priests from the tribe of Levi to fulfill commandments to live holy in the presence of God as His people. http://relate4ever.com/wp-content/03-Leviticus-Audio-KJV-Relate4ever.mp3 What helped you the most from the this message? We are Singing Scriptures – key verses 11:44-47, 19:18  I am Iehovah who brought you…

[vaspider]

Hi there! Hope you’re having a good day mama spider. Just dropping by to ask for some info on an addition to a post about Judaism you made. I chose to ask you and not op because i’ve sent you an ask before and know that you answer them. So real quick, why did you type out G-d rather than God or god? Does it have something to do with Judaism? Is it just for the faithful to follow and not goyim? As an atheist who was formerly Catholic i just wanna learn more and be respectful of others’ religions whenever i can. I know next to nothing about Judaism, even though they’re a good portion of my county’s population. Hope this ask isn’t insensitive in any way, and thanks for taking the time to read this <3

This isn't insensitive to ask. It's actually a great question, and I'm glad that you asked if you're curious.

Since those articles cover your asks pretty well, I'm gonna give you some free bits of info to help your quest for respectfulness, which is pretty rad, btw: we don't really use phrases like "the faithful" bc Judaism doesn't require faith in G-d. There is no conflict between Judaism and atheism & there are a lot of Jewish atheists and agnostics. Judaism is an ethnoreligion and a people in a way that a lot of religions aren't, and in fact, the symbolism for one of my favorite holidays emphasizes that we are not complete without all kinds of Jews:

The functions of the four species are defined by both their smell and taste, or lack thereof, along with some interesting imagery from the Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 30:12): The etrog has both taste and smell, representing people who both perform good deeds and have Torah (knowledge). The lulav has taste but no smell, representing those who do not use their knowledge to perform good deeds. The hadass (myrtle) has smell but no taste, representing those who perform good deeds but lack the knowledge to excel at them. The aravah (willow) has no taste and no smell, representing those who lack both.

"Good deeds" here doesn't just mean "being nice to your neighbors" but refers directly to performing mitzvot/mitzvahs, the 613 commandments that observant Jews observe to varying levels of specificity and intensity.

It's not offensive to use a phrase like "the faithful," just isn't ... correct, you know? Instead, you'd just say Jews or Jewish people. If you're trying to refer specifically to Jews who are religious or believe in G-d... there isn't exactly a phrase for that, I guess you'd say "observant," because there are a lot of Jews who are observant but also atheists, since observant Jews may be observing mitzvaot for any number of reasons that have nothing to do with belief in the existence of G-d.

Anyway, there you go, with some bonus info. As always, I don't speak for everybody, 2 Jews 3 Opinions, etc.

[shewantstobe]

"When strangers reside with you in your land, you shall not wrong them.

The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I [Adonai] am your God."

Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:33-34

[grecoromanyaoi]

Hello Refael! I have a question for you that is a bit stupid - you recently posted a photo of yourself where tattoos are visible (they're super cool by the way! I really like the violin bow), and I wanted to ask how it works in jewish tradition? I'm also jewish -though not super religious, from my estranged dad's side and trying to reconnect- and I've been avoiding getting a tattoo mostly for religious reasons since I've been told all kinds of stories about it being forbidden. I really admire your knoweldge and opinions, apologies if this question is offensive or ignorant. Shabbat shalom (almost)

hi, its no bother at all!! tattoos are forbidden in judaism, its mentioned in the torah (vayikra/leviticus 19)

personally i feel that my personal relationship w judaism allows me to do all sorts of things forbidden in the torah/jewish canon (gay sex for example, crossdressing...) i observed kosher for years but stopped recently (bc i felt it was more a religious ocd thing than deep religious connection), etc. including tattoos. i actually like to show my connection to my judaism n my family thru my tattoos (i have a tattoo of my great grandmothers necklace, for example, n a tattoo of jerusalem by razzouk tattoo, the palestinian family who has been tattooing for 700 years). n i also remind myself that there r jewish communities, religious jewish communities, that have traditionally tattooed themselves (namely ethiopian and amazigh jews), and are not less jewish in any way.

good luck to u on ur journey!!!

[girlactionfigure]

Rabbi Benny's Hilarious Torah Thought - The One With the Temple Deli - Vayikra

Why does the Torah consider the donations of simple firewood made to the Tabernacle as it's own independent sacrifice, as well as it being tremendously celebrated? In this hilarious Torah thought, discover the unique quality that the wood for the Altar Sacrifices had, as well as the meaningful lesson we are taught, about the offering of our very selves to G-d.

[hellhoundmaggie]

I have a tiny bit of potential evidence to support your angel Wayne theory.

According to the book of Enoch; Azazel (a grigori) was cast down into darkness and chained up (the entity in the estate?) and his face was covered so he couldn't see the light. (literal mask man)

Also in Vayikra 16 ; it talks about how Aaron takes two goats and sacrifices them. One is slaughtered "for the Lord" as part of the Yom Kippur rituals and would bring atonement for the community. The other is "given to Azazel". The word "Azazel" in Hebrew is a compound of ;

עזז(Azaz) "To be strong"

אל(El) "Mighty"

It is said that "Azazel" was a precipitous rock (cough the estate's cliff cough) that the other goat was flung from and this goat had the sins of the community placed upon it.

However in Christian tradition; it is also acknowledged that one goat would be slaughtered for atonement; but the other goat would be let go. To have escaped. Escape goat=scapegoat.

Also a tidbit; Enoch was the seventh generation between Adam and Noach.

That is all. I came back after a month hiatus to tell you this lmfao!

I have been meaning to do a big writeup about my angel Wayne theory and how it explains what is going on in Scarlet Hollow. Thank you for putting some of this information out there.

Also, welcome back!

[geostatonary]

tonight in torah study we discuss the nitty gritty of sacrifices; fat sheep; sacrifices predicated on uncertainty; the guilt of kings; and a recipe for raspberry cheesecake hamantaschen

[rickpoet]

These are some of the hills I will stand on. Check out the full text of this new poem for this week’s Parsha at  https://jewishpoetry.net/testimony-a-poem-for-parsha-vayikra-aliyah-6/

[torais-life]

Parashat Vaikra: ¿Cuál es el origen del pecado?. Rab Natan Menashe en YouTube