{"id":29573,"date":"2025-04-04T06:27:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T09:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tuviaserber.com\/?p=29573"},"modified":"2025-04-04T06:27:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T09:27:06","slug":"parashat-vayikra-closer-to-g-d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tuviaserber.com\/en\/parashat-vayikra-closer-to-g-d\/","title":{"rendered":"Parashat Vayikra \u2013 Closer to Gd"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week's Torah reading begins the third book of Torah, the book of the laws of Kohanim, priests. Even though most of the ideas and laws of the book don't apply today since we (still) don't have a Third Temple, still the lessons are eternal. How do you become closer to Gd?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week's Torah reading is called Vayikra<\/em>, and it marks the beginning of the third book of the Torah. The main subject of this book focuses on the various works performed by the priests, the Kohanim, in the Mishkan (Tabernacle).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first glance, one might wonder about the practicality of these laws\u2014how do they apply to our lives today? On a superficial level, much of the book may seem irrelevant, as we no longer have the Temple where these offerings were made. However, there are two key points that reveal the eternal relevance of these teachings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. The Power of Learning Torah<\/strong>
    The verse in Hosea (14:3) states, \u00abOur lips will substitute for bulls.\u00bb<\/em> This means that by studying and discussing the laws of the offerings, we are fulfilling them in a spiritual sense. Even though the physical sacrifices are no longer brought, the Torah considers our learning about them as if we were actually performing them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The Eternal Lessons of the Torah<\/strong>
    The word Torah<\/em> comes from the Hebrew root hour'ah<\/em>, meaning "teaching" or "instruction." Since the Torah is eternal, it must contain lessons that apply at all times and in all places. Even laws that seem disconnected from our daily lives hold deeper teachings that are relevant to us today.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    A Closer Look at the First Offering in Vayikra<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let's analyze one verse from this week's Torah portion and uncover the lessons hidden within it. At the beginning of Vayikra<\/em>, the Torah introduces the concept of offerings. In the second verse, Gd commands Moses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00abSpeak to the children of Israel and say to them: A man (Adam) who will bring an offering from among you to Gd, from the animals, from the cattle and from the sheep you shall bring your offering.\u00bb<\/em> (Leviticus 1:2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At first glance, this verse seems simple. However, in Hebrew, there is an unusual grammatical shift. The verse begins in singular form\u2014\u00abA man who will bring an offering\u2026\u00bb<\/em>\u2014but later transitions into plural\u2014\u00ab"you shall bring your offering."\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why does the Torah begin with singular and end in plural?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A Deeper Interpretation: The Offering as a Spiritual Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One explanation is that the verse is not only referring to physical offerings but also to a spiritual process. The Hebrew word for "offering" (korban<\/em>) comes from the root karov<\/em>, meaning "to come close." The verse can therefore be understood as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n