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Marty Teal D'Var Torah Men's Club Shabbat Service - April, 2008
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D'var Torah by Phyllis Savin - March 2008

Parsha Vayikra

Let me begin with a brief overview of Parashat Vayikra. Here G-d instructs Moses on the different kinds of sacrifices that are to be offered in the sanctuary.

The first, or olah, a burnt offering, was a voluntary sacrifice that had a high degree of sanctity: an entire animal was offered, excluding its hide, and the animal remains were burned on the altar.

Secondly, the minchah or meal offering was a sacrifice made of flour, oil, salt and frankincense that was partly burned and then given to guests to eat. This reminded me of all the cookies we've "sacrificed " at onegs.

The third , an asham, or penalty offering, was an obligatory sacrifice of a ram that was required chiefly of one who had misappropriated property.

Today, sacrifices as described here are so foreign to our thinking we don't know what to make of these laws, but in those days sacrifice was a most important form of worship for many many religions. By continuing the practice of sacrifice in the Temple, Jews were able to show their reverence to G-d in a very familiar setting.

Why sacrifice an animal? Scholars discussed this at length. Obviously, offering an animal instead of a person was a far more humane approach to worship. Or perhaps people offered an animal to give back to G-d the best of what G-d gave to them, the best of a flock. Or perhaps people thought: God gave me a gift, whatever that might be; I'll give one back. Whatever the reasons sacrifice had been used, it stopped with the destruction of the second temple.

We understand the word "Sacrifice" from the Latin which means "to make something holy" .

A much better understanding of this parashat comes from knowing the Hebrew definition. In the Hebrew, the word "sacrifice" comes from the root k. r. b meaning "to be close and near", stressing nearness and closeness to G-d through sacrifice and holy work. Even before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, the sacrifice of animals and goods was being replaced by prayer.

The Sages of Talmudic times began to modernize this idea that prayer could replace sacrifice. The sacrificial service, they said, should be replaced in the post-Temple era by prayer, by good deeds. Proverbs says "to do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to G-d than sacrifices".

Rabbi Abraham Heschel in his study of prayer suggests that "prayer is not a substitute for sacrifice, Prayer is sacrifice. "We surrender our vanities, burn our insolence, abandon bias, dishonesty and envy . Prayer is the means through which we sacrifice our selfishness and greed and get in touch with our powers for truth, justice and love".

Today I'd like to consider prayer as a substitute for sacrifice.

First. Prayer is tidy. As compared to a slaughtered dismembered animal burning on an altar, prayer is preferable.

Prayer is portable. A person can pray anywhere: In a hospital, on a battlefield, on a hiking path or at school before a test. One does not need to be in Jerusalem at the Temple with a perfect ram in tow to feel a kinship with G-d.

Prayer is reasonably priced. If one is poor, prayers cost nothing. If you're wealthy, prayer still cost nothing.

Prayer is personal. From A Torah Commentary by Harvey Fields, it 's suggested that if one is so inclined one might whisper a prayer under ones breath or sing out loud in joy and love. One can write a song, a poem, or speak in simple childlike language. Whatever is offered with a truly sincere heart is acceptable to G-d.

Prayer needs no intermediary. We don't need a calf, or a priest for that matter. Prayer stands as the original "Do it yourself" kit. Yet prayer represents the deepest dreams of our hearts and the most intimate view into our souls. Prayers are our truth.

Prayer requires both truth and honesty. For example: When we pray for wealth we have to ask ourselves, Do we want it only for ourselves or to share with others through tzedakah? Does our wealth come on the backs of our workers or are we a fair and honest employer? How hard are we willing to work for that wealth? Or do we expect it to rain from the sky… a miracle from G-d because G-d loves us best? When our prayer is answered what do we do with the gift?

If you look at prayers this way , with honesty , what we ask for, how we expect that prayer to be answered, and what we do with the result, is an open window to our soul. Prayer is a way of getting to know ourselves better. "And getting to know our better selves".

In private, Prayers are often petitions for ourselves. Other prayers are blessings in praise of G-d. This is especially true when we pray together as a community. When we say in our prayers that G-d is compassionate, merciful, just , doesn't G-d already know this? Yes, of course God knows. But when we say these words, compassionate, loving, just and merciful, we who are created in G-d's image, we realize that those attributes of G-d, , the qualities to which we give the highest praise, are the very qualities we want not just in our God, but in ourselves.

In our most noble aspirations, we want to be just, fair, kind and merciful. So when we pray sincerely, we aspire to the highest yearning in our hearts. The poet Robert Browning wrote " A man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for?" Perfection is impossible but we can always try.

May this week find you prayerful, And for this week, may you live the life for which you wish to be remembered.

Phyllis Ann Savin

March, 2008