By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
EL CAJON, California — With the opening words of this week’s Torah reading, Vayikra, we hear something profound: “And He called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When a person from among you brings a korban to Hashem, from animals—from cattle or from the flock—you shall bring your offering.”
Hashem calls out. He reaches for us, initiating connection. And in our daily recitation of Ashrei, we respond: “Hashem is close to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” This divine dialogue is the essence of closeness. It is not a distant, abstract pursuit but a relationship of reciprocity—Hashem calling to us in Vayikra, and we calling to Him in Ashrei. This is dveikus, the deep spiritual bond that transcends time and space.
Yes, we can delve into all of the different types of animal and meal sacrifices and offerings we learn about in this parsha, including the “olah” or “ascending offerings,” the “minchah” or “meal offerings,” the “shelamim” or “peace offering,” the “chatat” or different types of “sin offer ings,” 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 comfortably with us. What does make sense to us, especially now however, is connecting with Hashem.
Seen through the right lens, sacrifice is not about loss; it is about devotion. It is the conscious decision to let go of something lesser to reach for something greater. In our own lives, we experience this truth daily. The sacrifices we make for our families, our communities, and our faith—the time, energy, and resources we offer—are all expressions of our deepest values. Even the struggles and hardships we have endured, whether personal or collective, hold within them the potential to elevate us.
The past year, marked by uncertainty and pain, has also been an invitation—a call—to refine our humanity, to deepen our bonds with one another, and to recognize Hashem’s presence in our lives more profoundly. We can see that sacrifice is not deprivation; it is elevation. Every act of giving—whether of time, energy, or love—becomes a korban, an offering that brings us nearer to our highest selves and to Hashem. The sacrifices we make for our families, our communities, and our emunah, faith, are not burdens but privileges. Even our struggles and hardships, when faced with faith, refine us, shaping us into vessels worthy of divine connection.
Maimonides tells us that Hashem planned for us to move from animal sacrifice to prayer when we were ready to let go of the need for a concrete connection to Hashem. He teaches us that closeness to Hashem is about comprehending spiritual knowledge, which is a form of intimacy with Him. And yet, this journey of connection is not always easy. Many have felt the weight of growing antisemitism, the uncertainty of our times, and the strain on our well-being. Staying hopeful in a time of crisis requires strength; some might even call it “living in a bubble.” But perhaps, as the parsha suggests, it is not about escaping reality but about transforming it. Sacrifice teaches us resilience. It reminds us that we do not give up, that we move forward with faith, that we draw closer—to each other and to Hashem—precisely when times are hardest.
Rambam teaches that korbanos were a stepping stone, guiding us toward a higher form of avodah—tefillah, prayer. In the absence of the Beis HaMikdash, our prayers become our offerings, our voices replacing the songs of the Levi’im, our hearts the altar. And what is the foundation of prayer if not gratitude?
We can feel the gratitude that comes with sacrifice. 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 His 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, when 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 Hashem continually in the divine gifts of our life. The parsha tells us that rituals and 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 Hashem. Let’s use our breath, our Heavenly endowment, never taking even one breath 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 to deal with the uproar of antisemitism we all face.
Hashem is calling to us, even now. Perhaps especially now. Let us answer with our voices, our prayers, and our steadfast commitment to draw closer—to Him, to one another, and to the sacred purpose of our lives. Let’s call out and draw close with Him and do so with thanks and sacrificial prayer. Let’s all learn, as one, to develop a path of kind closeness with each other and to create a positive relationship with Hashem and with the world in which we are blessed to live.
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun.