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VayikraRead / Listen to Portion
Vayikra
Obedience and Sacrifice
Paul urges us to present our bodies as a “living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God.” Is Paul asking us to build altars and literally sacrifice ourselves upon them? Of course not. Paul is using the sacrificial language as an illustration for obedience. He is urging us to set aside our stubborn wills.
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Salt of the Covenant
Traditional Jewish teaching says that every home is as a small temple. The table within the home corresponds to the altar. On every Sabbath and festival, we place bread and wine before the LORD. We pronounce blessings over the wine, and over the bread, salt it, break it, and share it. These simple covenant rites have survived over 3,000 years.
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A Soothing Aroma
When the prophets seem to speak against the sacrificial system, they are not condemning the mode of worship, they are condemning the worshippers. In every instance the prophetic rebuke is directed toward the immoral, disobedient people among the Israelites.
Messiah and the Sacrifices
Why do we start the children with Leviticus and not with Genesis? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said, "Since the children are pure and the sacrifices are pure, let the pure come and occupy themselves with things that are pure." (Leviticus Rabbah 7:3)
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Sacrifices are Pure
Why do we start the children with Leviticus and not with Genesis? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said, "Since the children are pure and the sacrifices are pure, let the pure come and occupy themselves with things that are pure." (Leviticus Rabbah 7:3)
