Divrei Vayikra
A Service of Love
Korbanos are perhaps the most commonly misunderstood part of the Torah. Distorted, the topic became such a punching bag for the leaders of early Reform that HaRav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch zt”l devoted much of his 150-page commentary on Parshas Vayikra to debunking their slander. Among the myths he attacked is that of referring to korbanos as “offerings” or “gifts,” for they are not simple presents; nor as “sacrifices,” which imply that something is being given up, which is the diametric opposite of what really happens when a Jew brings a korban. Rather, says Rav Hirsch, look at the shoresh: korbanos come from “karev – to come close” and as such are methods to “attain a higher sphere of life,” to come closer to Hashem. This drive, says Rav Hirsch, is “the sole measure for one’s own outlook on life and for estimating true happiness.” As Asaph declares (Tehillim 73:28) “As for me, closeness to Hashem is my good.” Without it, we are like “mindless beasts, senseless and unknowing.” (ibid., 22)
Now that we do not have a Beis HaMikdash, learning about the Seder HaAvodah and the laws of korbanos take the place of actual korbanos. But with all our learning, are we ready for Moshiach’s arrival and his building the Beis HaMikdash? Do we deeply appreciate the significance of korbanos? Perhaps not. Clearly, in order to truly desire the geulah shleima, a clearer perspective of korbanos and their meaning is warranted.
One approach is brought by HaRav Shimshon Dovid Pincus zt”l. He begins by bringing the Ramban (Vayikra 1:9) who states that at the moment which a person’s animal korban is being schechted and burned, he should be thinking, “I have sinned to Hashem. Really, I deserve what the kohanim are doing to this animal – slaughtering and burning it. However, because of Hashem’s kindliness, He has allowed me to bring this animal in my place.”
On the surface, says Rav Pincus, this thought carries with it a large dose of yiras ha’onesh, a fear of punishment. However, he says, the opposite is also true. Because this interaction – the Jew’s feeling of having sinned to Hashem, and Hashem’s empathy in His kindliness – could arise only from deep love; the korbanos actually reflect the deep affection between Hashem and His nation.
The idea certainly is beautiful, but how is it expressed only by korbanos and not by other mitzvos? Rav Pincus explains: Yirmiyah (31:20) instructs Israel that when the nation goes into exile, they should “set up road markers (‘tziyunim’)” for the eventual Return. Rashi (Devarim 11:18) and Ramban (Vayikra 18:25) bring the Siphri, who gives a deeper meaning of this posuk: While in exile, we should make ourselves “metzuyanim” by performing mitzvos. However, the essential place for fulfilling mitzvos is Eretz Yisroel, and mitzvos done in Chutz La’Aretz are only a preparation for their fulfillment in Eretz Yisroel. While there are numerous explanations of this concept (which should not be taken in its simple literal sense) one point is clear. Just as the relationship between a husband and wife finds its greatest expression in their home, so also is the relationship between Hashem and Am Israel most natural and complete in their mutual home – Eretz Yisroel.
The higher the kedushah, the closer is the relationship. Because korbanos are a unique expression of the intimacy of our relationship with Hashem, they hold a unique place among the Taryag mitzvos: they are performed only in Hashem’s house, the Beis HaMikdash itself.
This concept can also answer another question. Once the Beis HaMikdash was built, bamos, private altars, which had been temporarily allowed, now became eternally banned. However, they remained a thorn in the side of later generations; even the righteous kings throughout Sefer Melachim could not stop these clandestine korbanos. Why does the Navi focus upon this one transgression, which on the surface appears rather benign; after all, weren’t the bamos intended to serve Hashem?
Now the gravity of bamos becomes more clear. As an expression of love reserved for the privacy of Hashem’s House, korbanos have no place whatsoever outside of the Bais HaMikdash.