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Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayikra – וַיִּקְרָא (Leviticus 1:1-5:26)

The letter א “Aleph” makes almost no sound. As it appears in the last letter in the first word this week’s Torah Portion, Vayikra, it is so small as to be almost invisible. A scribal tradition passed down for thousands of years, makes the Alef of Vayikra half its usual size.  Do not expect – the Torah is teaching – that God’s presence in history will always be as clear as it was in the days of the Exodus from Egypt which we will commemorate on Passover, just a few days from now. 

Seeing the Alef of Adonai in our own day, will depend on our own sensitivity. For those who look, it will be visible. For those who listen, it can be heard. But first you have to be one who looks and one who listens. If you choose not to see or hear, then God’s voice will fall silent. God’s call will be inaudible. History will seem mere chance. The history of the Jewish people testifies to the presence of God in our midst. The future of the Jewish people depends on our ability to hear God’s call.

Parsha Vayikra Torah Summary:

God instructs Moses on the five different kinds of sacrifices that were to be offered in the sanctuary: The olah or “burnt offering” was a voluntary sacrifice that had a high degree of sanctity and was regarded as the “standard” offering. The entire animal, except for its hide, was burned on the altar. (1:1-17) The minchah or “meal offering” was a sacrifice made of flour, oil, salt, and frankincense that was partly burned on the altar and partly given to the priests to eat. (2:1-16) The zevach sh’lamim or “sacrifice of well-being” was a voluntary animal offering from one’s herd, sometimes brought to fulfill a vow. (3:1-17) The chatat or “sin offering” was an obligatory sacrifice that was offered to expiate unintentional sins. This offering differs from the others in the special treatment of the blood of the animal. (4:1-5:13) The asham or “penalty offering” was an obligatory sacrifice of a ram that was required chiefly of one who had misappropriated property. (5:1-26)

Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1−5:26)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1−5:26)

The book of Exodus finished with a Crisis, God dwells in the Sanctuary we build for God, but we cannot enter it.

Leviticus 1:1 the first verse in Leviticus says “Adonai called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting” – crisis resolved, God calls Moses to enter God’s dwelling place, the temple.

Rashi the greatest Jewish Torah commentator ever say “it was an expression of affection”.

Such a beautiful understanding of what our relations with the Divine ought to be! Affection!

Vayikra Summary:

God instructs Moses on the five different kinds of sacrifices that were to be offered in the sanctuary:

The olah or “burnt offering” was a voluntary sacrifice that had a high degree of sanctity and was regarded as the “standard” offering. The entire animal, except for its hide, was burned on the altar. (1:1-17)
The minchah or “meal offering” was a sacrifice made of flour, oil, salt, and frankincense that was partly burned on the altar and partly given to the priests to eat. (2:1-16)
The zevach sh’lamim or “sacrifice of well-being” was a voluntary animal offering from one’s herd, sometimes brought to fulfill a vow. (3:1-17)
The chatat or “sin offering” was an obligatory sacrifice that was offered to expiate unintentional sins. This offering differs from the others in the special treatment of the blood of the animal. (4:1-5:13)
The asham or “penalty offering” was an obligatory sacrifice of a ram that was required chiefly of one who had misappropriated property. (5:1-26)

Tzav (Leviticus 6:1−8:36)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Tzav (Leviticus 6:1−8:36)

This week’s portion from the Torah includes the command: “Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually (tamid), it shall not go out.” This is the Biblical origins of our Ner Tamid, the Eternal Light. But, from what we know of the Ner Tamid in Temple times, that “Eternal Light” was kindled again and again every day.

The Ner Tamid is a symbol of God’s Eternal presence among our people and throughout the world. For our ancestors, that meant an Eternal promise, for us it means keeping that light burning always. Keeping that light burning means being partners with God in the kindling of God’s light every day in and every age. How do you bring light to the world each day?

Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1−5:26)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1−5:26)

The opening word of Leviticus that gives the book and this first parashah its name is Vayikra, which means, “And God called.” God calls us from the pages of Leviticus. God calls us to holiness, to a life of meaning, to a path of harmony. God calls us to a sense of connectedness to a world within ourselves, within our families, and within all life upon this planet. The question at the heart of Vayikra is, how will you answer God’s call?