Vayikra 5772 – The Video

Hi everyone:

I just produced a video based on my previous post. For those who prefer the more visual and audio experience, here it is.

Shlomo

Thinking about Third Temple Sacrifices

Parashat Vayikra 5772

Earlier in the week I asked a number of questions to stimulate thinking about the difficult topic of animal sacrifices (offerings) in the Temple.

In this post I will focus on four questions:

• Why lean on the animal’s head?
• What is the purpose of animal sacrifices?
• Is there Judaism without animal sacrifices?
• Will there be animal sacrifices in the Third Temple?

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Will There be Sacrifices in the Third Temple?

Parashat Vayikra 5772

As we read last week, at the end of Sefer Shemot, Moshe set up the Mishkan and the glory of God filled it.

Here at the beginning of Sefer Vayikra, God calls to Moshe and tells him which sacrifices the Jewish people will be offering.

I must mention that my teacher, Rabbi Mendel Farber, often told me that we should not refer to the animal offerings as sacrifices. To sacrifice something can imply that it is lost and now without value. He contends that whatever we give to God is never lost and never loses its value.

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