Shabbat Shalom! We at Beit Torah ask what shall we sacrifice today?:

Shabbat Parashat VaYikra 5785; Today’s Sacrifices and Offerings;

VaYikra 1:1-5:26; Isaiah 43:21-44:23

 

VaYikra, Leviticus, the handbook for the Priests to study

Tells how to expiate or celebrate when learned with a buddy…

 

Details were given on how sacrifices were to be prepared...

Since offerings are no more, we will now give just a brief report:

No blood nor fat from organs nor any entrails were to be used;

Frankincensed fried, boiled or baked grain without leaven - part for Priests’ use;

For offerings of celebration, atonement, or gratitude.

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The English translation might cause us confusion

Saying that fat is always forbidden to eat,

But the Hebrew is more clear that heilev’s not fat!

It is internal organ fat in sacrifice meat!

 

So if all carrion, blood or such fat is eaten,

The consumer by Israel will ever shunned be!

A bonus in sacrifice of burning all fat

Is that a pleasing odor will come with all that!

(No mention’s made of sacrifice bird fat…)

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Expiation was given for the sins and guilt of those who cared

But criminals gave no offerings unless compelled by the Court.

Maybe repayments were required although full forgiveness came up short…

 

How to prepare offerings specific to each reason was told:

Such as refusing to witness, contact with nidah* or death,

For well being, prayers for peace, words of thanks, betrayal of trust,

For blasphemous oaths, reparations after repayment as must.

Plus, Priests were taught words to celebrate or expiate with each breath.

 

Considered about sins was whether in fault there was intent

[For if unwittingly the sin, reparations could be done

Then followed by forgiveness from HaShem* that still could be won!]

Or whether it be to defraud, rob, or illegally take;

Whether it was individual sin or a community bent

On unethical practices for their gross selfish needs to slake…

 

It is said all leaders cannot avoid sinning and must atone.

Forgiveness, atonement, whether as a group or being alone -

Hasidim says Gates of Heaven are closed to those who do not heed...

Sages such as Rambam or Abravanel said we do not feed

Sacrifices to G!d. So, not to confuse folk, they are no more.

Rather, with prayers and good deeds, HaShem we honor and adore!

 

How can we separate the historical from the practical for use today?

*Nidah- impurity such as from a woman’s menses

HaShem – the Holy One, literally: the [Holy] Name

Shabbat Shalom! Be safe!

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If it is also Shabbat Zachor, then add these two lines at the end:

 

We know Amalek comes in many forms. Hence this we must recall:

To oppose Amalek’s rise to power or else we all will fall…

 

Haftorah from Isaiah 43:21-44:23

 

So said Isaiah of HaShem's view of his time

As he addressed the People who were out of line:

"Disdain of my ways has you abandoning me.

Your sins have mounted up. Deceitful are your pleas.

So I distance from you now, knowing you'll return

To be redeemed by me, none other, whom you spurned.

Against me the works of your hands can not compete.

When I redeem you, with thanks you'll loudly praise me!"

 

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Shabbat Shalom! We at Beit Torah ask how to cleanse our hearts and light the fire of devotion to the mitzvot therein?:

 

Shabbat HaGadol, Parashat Tzav 5785; Purifications and Rituals; VaYikra 6:1-8:36; Malachi 3:4-24 [usual haftorah: Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23]

 

Yitro told Moshe: ”Delegate”. That then was done

By giving the Priests all the spiritual tasks,

By anointing them with a seven day cleanse, won

With little suffering so that they could then bask

In the sweet adoration of the People’s trust

That all what Priests did would lift their spirits as must -

By the Priests in special vestments conducting all

As per commands from Moshe they all must recall,

Who claimed they were HaShem’s words he was passing on...

 

Moshe consecrated accouterments and tools,

The tabernacle and altars as per the rules

Until Priests, washed, dressed, anointed, duties could do...

Or later anointed Kings these duties could do too!

 

With more rules for Priests who are no more

To handle the People’s guilt and thanks;

To feed Moshe and Priests evermore

No organ fat, only breasts and shanks

From offered livestock and birds for

Aaron’s offspring, but only males score

The remnant, unleavened grain offering

Not offered by Priests, what plain Folk bring...

 

Tzav’s portion describing sacrifice rituals

Includes reference to a perpetual fire

Fed firewood by attending Priest to blaze all night;

Along with what can be used as Priests’ victuals

As well as offerings [burnt; of unleavened grain]

For elevation, gratitude, ordination,

Well being, purification, reparation;

No carrion ever to eat despite desire

Although carrion fat for the tasks could be used…

All ashes to outside the camp’s plain were removed…

 

Should a person through food or touch impure become,

They are to be cut off away from kin and shunned.

 

Does altar fire all night in the heart of the camp

Mean such intense fire lit in our hearts will be stamped

There forever? So if blood on clothing is spilled,

We boil out impurities; cleanse our hearts as willed.

 

Now a person anointed, a Moshiach makes -

Hence a Messiah of regular human form…

Never a Moshiach was ever meant to take

On being a supernal redeemer reborn!

 

Haftorah HaGadol

Since some say [e.g. Mishnah]: Redemption will show

On Pesach in the future, so Malachi they chose

For accountability, Shabbat HaGadol…

He said: cursed are those giving offerings impure.

Ignoring their curse they continue their vileness:

Cheating employees and the needy, sorcery,

False swearing, no support of strangers, adultery

All with fraudulent hearts. To account they must go

Upon the time of Redemption for sullying

HaShem’s reputation. They’ve ability though

To be arrogant, unpunished, and happy now...

On Judgment Day they'll be the wicked trampled low;

And yet while those who Moshe's teachings do not spurn -

Those, the honest, reverent and righteous will earn

Pest-free, fertile, prosperous fields, vines and folk

Remembered for all generations as good, pure,

Vindicated, and blessed when Elijah re-shows

To reconcile generations with each other!

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HAFTORAH when not a special day:

Prophet Jeremiah claimed with him HaShem spoke

That upon leaving Egypt there was no command

To do sacrifices; just to observe the Laws,

Follow them was the need: Mitzvot to be done and

Call out Folk who don’t listen but do their own thing,

Being very stiff-necked and much less civilized…

Yet even when you tell them, listen they will not.

They will seal their own fates and lose their promised lots.

 

So shave and lament those who have not realized

They’ve angered HaShem with Baal worship embraced…

Hence with death and ruin HaShem will silence them all.

In wrath their bones will be scattered and banished wide.

Folk in their riches, strength, or wisdom should take no pride,

But devote themselves to HaShem who’ll recall

To prefer to act with kind equity worldwide

And delight in Justice with Kindness to be chased...

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Shabbat Shalom! We at Beit Torah ask: In Omer, on what do we need to reflect?:

Shabbat Shemini 5785; Fire Safety; VaYikra 9:1-11:47; 2 Shmuel 6:1-7:17

 

Impurities, impunities, sincerity, immunities

All pertain now to this week’s readings

Of sincere heeding or not heedings…

Moshe taught Aaron how offerings must be done.

The unblemished offerings, burnt ones or grain ones,

Burnt by fire from HaShem [Chinese gunpowder?] when

First sacrifice for Priests’ purification then,

Second purifies the People, sins wiped away!

In Tent’s heavy smoke, by Shechinah, guilt assuaged…

Were the Golden Calf Sins for Priest Aaron absolved?

He felt shame, did sacrifices... was all resolved?

 

Aaron was to teach all processes to his sons,

But Nadav and Abihu, heady with power and drink,

Did not follow those ways when they entered the Holy rink.

A strange fire flash-over left their tunics untouched

Burning alcohol and anointing oils with such

Ferocity that Moshe decreed: no loose hair,

No torn clothes, no drinks, no oils, face the ark when there!

Then Aaron’s cousins pulled bodies outside camp grounds

By their unburnt tunics. Grief among the Folk found

Mourning outside where Aaron and sons stayed in Tent

Entrance with no death rites, letting the Folk lament…

 

Touching death makes all impure, need to wash away

That impurity… Then wait, see if all’s okay...

Sons Elazar and Ithamar ate burnt sin offerings

That Dad Aaron wrongly had done. Hence he was inferring

That the tragic fire was punishment for his not heeding.

 

Then more laws did follow on what foods we should be eating,

How to tell if a critter was kosher to eat:

Fins and scales; cloven hooves; no predators; - replete

With locusts and grasshoppers and crickets as added treats…

Later revoked as identities weren’t recalled complete.

No impure intake allowed, like carrion meat.

It is said: Hence impure words from mouth do retreat...

However if impure 'til eve from carcass touch,

Are cooks handling meat becoming impure as much?

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Haftorah:

At Nachon on the threshing floor, the oxen slipped.

Loyal Uzzah touched the Ark to stop it as it tipped.

It crushed him so that David was filled with such fear,

Enough to store away the Ark three months before

He brought it to the City of David, so Dear,

To remain mobile with no fixed building nor floor.

Then in joy King David danced. So wildly he twirled

That his private parts were seen by all as he swirled...

When his wife, Mical, loudly decried his manhood display,

David did not heed her. Hence they went their separate ways.

Thus Saul's line through childless Mical withered away...

Yet David’s line would be leaders forever more:
This Nathan said was G!d’s promise - as per our lore...

So stories this week have impure impunities to suss.

Sincerity did not prevent consequences. Discuss!