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Sacrifices As Ritual
Pay Homage To God
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Shabbat Tzav: Leviticus 6:1-8:36;
Numbers 19:1-22; Ezekiel 36:16-38.
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T
he first seven chapters of
Maimonides held that the
sacrificial system was simply
fices to be offered by the a universal custom among ali -\
Israelites. The concept of peoples at the time of Moses.
sacrifice in the ancient temple is To worship meant to offer sacri-
difficult for people today to vi- fices.
sualize.
The sedrah deals with regu-
The priestly authors
lations concerning prepa-
of Leviticus regarded
ration of various types
sacrifice as ritual in-
and kinds of sacrifices.
structions for satisfying
Their main purpose was
God. In ancient times,
to formalize or reaffirm
many peoples believed
the relationship between_/
that sacrifice was a nor-
the worshipper ancc\
mal element of daily life
God as well as the com-
to appease God's favor.
munity of Israel. What
Yet Amos, Jeremiah,
was required was to re-
RABBI
Hosea, Micah and other
tain God's continuing
RICHARD C.
prophets spoke out
presence among the peo-
HERTZ
against animal sacrifices
ple.
and instead called for a SPECIAL TO THE
To the rabbis of the tal-
JEWISH NEWS
religion of ethical con-
mudic period, the sacrifi-
duct only. Nonetheless,
cial cult described in this
throughout the biblical period sedrah was not of preeminent =/
and for centuries thereafter, sac- importance. Prayer and perfor- -\
rifice was considered proper and mance of good deeds were more
necessary when performed with important. Obedience to God
sincerity and with strict adher- and love of mankind are greater
ence to tradition.
than sacrifices.
Our sedrah this week deals
The rest of the sedrah gives
with the sacrificial cult of a description of the religious
ancient Israeli life. All ancient celebrations in formal worship.
religions had sacrifices as part Here the priesthood had a par-
of their worship; they were ticular interest because of
considered the gifts made to the its central role in the sacrifices:_/
deity. The worshippers' involve- the roles of Aaron, the high
ment was primarily a means of priest, and his sons are also not-
establishing a contact with the ed.
deity. Sacrifices were the main
For centuries, children began
outward manifestation of reli- their studies with Leviticus.
gion.
Why? The rabbis thought that
In early biblical times, sacri- children would learn values
fices could be offered anywhere. of purity that way. Sacrifices
High places, serving as altars, were acts of homage to God. Not
were scattered throughout the that God needs sacrifices of
land.
burnt animals or food for Hi,(-
Later on, with the establish- daily diet. Holiness and right-
ment and the building of a cen- eousness are the goals of Ju-
tral sanctuary in the Temple in daism. ❑
Jerusalem, the special types of
sacrifices to be offered were de-
tailed in the opening chapters of
Leviticus deal with sacri-
Leviticus.
With the destruction of the
Temple by the Romans in 70
B.C.E., sacrifices posed a prob-
lem. The hope vanished that the
Temple would be rebuilt and the
feeling grew that prayer and
study must take the place of the
offerings on the altar.
When Solomon dedicated the
Temple, it became the main
focus of the religion. During
the Second Temple period, sac-
rifices were offered in the Tem-
ple, which was the axis around
which the religious life revolved.
Richard Hertz is distinguished
professor of Jez.Vish studies at
University of Detroit Mercy.
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