Weekly Sidra: Vayikra (and He called)
Torah Portion: Vayikra / Leviticus 1:1-5:26
Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 43:21-44:23

Vayikra or Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26 is also the name of the book which is differs from others in Torah.  It is not a narrative of the people and HaShem’s story.  The Exodus has occurred, people are learning to live free people and as the Most High’s people.  This book is about learning to approach HaShem, understanding purity, and reconciling with community and HaShem.

Traditionally it is the first book taught to toddlers, at the tender age of three, by their mothers!  One may ask why this book?  It teaches, purity and relationship to the Most High to the little ones.  They are near the time, the rabbis tell us, that angels taught Torah to the unborn, touching them on the upper lip so they would forget, yet recognize the truth of Torah when taught.

The portion begins with the Most High calling Moshe.  The form for call implies intimacy while speaking. HaShem opens the conversation intimately with Moshe about maintaining, and recovering as we miss the mark, or sin, and turning back, or doing teshuvah (repentance).  Implied is that Moshe shares with the people that HaShem desires the same intimate relationship with all.  As the people continue to get to know the God that lead them out of the Exodus the attribute of chesed (loving kindness) is clear.  The Holy One blessed be He demonstrates the desire for relationship with His people and consistency teaches each person is responsible for their actions before HaShem.

The chesed and grace of HaShem with this sacrificial system without the fickleness of the gods would have been obvious coming out of the other cultures and learning to live as a set apart people in community.    Teaching the toddlers about purity and relationship with the Blessed One Holy be He before the age of individual adult acceptance and observance brought them into the community as they grew, gained experience and became active members of the community with their own families.

Many kinds of sacrifices and offerings are discussed throughout this parsha.  The Holy One Blessed be He knew the wealth of families differed.  What was brought was in accordance with the living standards of each family causing no hardship in fulling the obligation, without any difference of value to HaShem.  Setting up the sacrificial system for restoring relationship the Most High demonstrated chesed or kindness again to the His people.

Salt was commanded to be offered with all meal offerings and all animal sacrifices in Vayikra 2:13.   This mineral was valued for many reasons and it was commonly held by families.  It preserved food and it was a disinfectant.  On the trade roads salt was used as a unit of exchange or a traded commodity. It enabled food to keep on longer travels.  It enhanced the flavor of foods that it was added to when cooked.

What do I teach my children about purity and knowing HaShem without a temple for sacrifices and offerings? What cleans, disinfects, preserves and enhances my life and walk with the Most High?   Korbanot is commonly translated offering or sacrifice.  It carries the concept of losing something which aligns with bringing something to the Temple.  Further emphasis is on the concepts of drawing near.  Prayer is how we draw near to HaShem today dropping out pride coming humbly before the Most High. 

Do I know the Most High’s chesed and desire for intimacy in my life? Speak with, listen to, pray to God come to to him with all of the missteps and continue to step back on the path set before you by the Most High.  He desires relationship with us and with forethought created a sacrificial system so our blood isn’t shed for our missing the mark and getting back up again.

By Rut Etalka