by Rabbi Dr. Eli Yoggev
Posted on March 23, 2023
Parsha Vayikra opens up with Hashem calling out to Moshe: “Vayikra el Moshe” (Vayikra 1:1). In the word vayikra there is a small letter aleph. This is a unique occurrence because we only find small letters in eight other places in the Torah.…
by Rabbi Ezra Seligsohn
Posted on March 10, 2022
With the arrival of Parashat Vayikra, we are now in the parshiot of the korbanot, the sacrifices, which as moderns can sometimes feel a little difficult to relate to. I want to highlight one curious aspect of bringing korbanot that arises in the fifth chapter.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on March 19, 2021
“The priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet savor unto the Lord” (Vayikra, 1:13). We are told eight times in this week’s parasha that the sacrifices are a “sweet savor” to God. …
by Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein
Posted on November 1, 2016
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by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on March 17, 2016
The second half of the book of Shemot focused on creating the Mishkan as a Sanctuary in which God Godself could dwell among the Children of Israel. In contrast, the book of Vayikra focuses on what is done in that Sanctuary: first and foremost, the bringing of sacrifices. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on March 7, 2014
The building of the Mishkan which took up the second half of the Book of Shemot, focused on creating a Sanctuary as a place for God’s Presence to dwell, for God Godself to dwell among the Children of Israel. In contrast, the book of Vayikra focuses on what is done in that Sanctuary – which is, first and foremost, the bringing of sacrifices. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on March 14, 2013
There is a well-know debate regarding the desirability of sacrifices. Rambam, like many moderns, was also bothered by the institution of sacrifices, and stated that God had only commanded them as a concession to human weakness. In his Guide to the Perplexed (III:32), he states that God commanded them as a way of weaning the people away from idolatry.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on March 22, 2011
In another post we discussed the differences between Tzav and Vayikra, focusing on the order in which the korbanot are listed. As a wrap-up of that discussion, here are some additional differences worth noting: Tzav’s discussion of the olah is very brief (6:1-6), without an enumeration of all the possible different animals. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on March 19, 2010
Parshat Vayikra introduces us into the world of korbanot. The institution of sacrifices is a very difficult concept for many today. How do we understand why God would want or need sacrifices? And even if they are for us, as a way to connect to God, the acts involved in bringing sacrifices – slaughtering, sprinkling the blood, burning of the fats – seem much too bloody, gory, and smelly to constitute an elevated religious experience.…
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