Parasha Vayikra
SAN DIEGO — Here we are physically separated, yet still quite close to each other learning together. With the opening words of Vayikra, “And He called to Moses, and the Lord spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When a man from [among] you brings a sacrifice to the Lord; from animals, from cattle or from the flock you shall bring your sacrifice.”
For you accountants out there, this parasha has more letters and words than any other weekly reading, 6,222 Hebrew letters, and 1, 673 Hebrew words. During this time of uncertainty, anxiety, concern, fear and worry that so many feel, like every week, this wordy parasha comes at just the right time.
Yes, we can delve into all of the different types of animal and meal sacrifices and offerings we learn about, including the “olah” or “ascending offerings, the “minchah” or “meal offerings,” the “shelamim” or “peace offering,” the “chatat” or different types of “sin offerings,” and the “asham” or “guilt offering.” But perhaps there’s more to this than digging deeply into something that on the surface doesn’t resonate easily with most of us. What does make sense to us, especially now, is connecting with Hashem, finding Him in the current “coronapocalypse.” That’s the link with these sacrifices.
Sacrifices, from the array listed in Vayikra to the seemingly bothersome and emotionally difficult sacrifices we make in self-quarantining, isolating, and the myriad of steps we take to place our health and safety as top priorities in life at this time, are about connecting to Hashem – when seen through the right lens. When processed properly, the current seeming decline we are living through may not be a setback at all, but rather just the lens, the momentum, we need to better understand our falls, bring us into more fruitful encounters with each other, and help refine the nature of our collective humanity, and IY’H, bring us closer to Hashem.
Nearly everyone is in some level of emotional and mental distress over what is happening. We all need to answer the call of Vayikra. Learning Torah and doing mitzvot, engaging in prayer, were met with imprisonment, torture and death in days past. Staying positive during a crisis such as we are facing takes courage, some say “living in a bubble.” The parasha tells us the power of sacrifice brings the strength to never give up, to always come closer, to avoid despair.
We see the sense of gratitude that one brings with sacrifices, Indeed, our prayers, our modern day sacrifices, are filled with deep gratitude. We thank Hashem from the moment we open our eyes in the morning, with Modeh Ani. From the blessings we say every morning thanking Hashem for a myriad of gifts, to Birkat Hamazon for our food, blessings when seeing beauty, coming upon a wise person, hearing thunder, seeing an unusual creature, for our good health, upon completing a journey, for our parents and children, for our learning and our accomplishments, often things we take for granted, we recognize the Hand of God continually in the divine gift of our life. The parasha tells us the rituals, the sacrifices, are a pipeline to Hashem. We need this reminder, this conduit, now, perhaps more than ever in our blessed lives. Our rabbis in Midrash Rabbah tell us kol ha’neshama is better read as kol ha’neshima, with each breath we are wise to praise God. The COVID19 virus reminds us of the irreplaceable gift of our respirations.
Let’s use our breath, our Heavenly endowment, without taking even one for granted, to sing the praises of Hashem, especially during this threat to our health and wellbeing. When we use our prayers, our gratitude, our contemporary sacrifices in this manner, we see His hand in our lives. Vayikra, “And He called…” and He is calling to us through the COVID19 challenge. Let’s answer with thanks and sacrificial prayer that all come through this time healthier, closer and strengthened.
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Michael Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly d’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family worship. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com