Spirituality

TORAH PORTION

The Meaning
Of The Rituals

Shabbat Vayikra: Leviticus 1:1-5:26;
Isaiah 43:21-44:23.

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A46

March 26 - 2009

he talmudic rabbis referred
versation a rabbi might have with a
to the Book of Vayikra
bar or bat mitzvah on the bimah or
as Torat HaKohanim, the
with a chatan and kallah under the
teachings of the priests. Many have
chuppah, or with a person request-
wondered why this book, at least
ing a MiShebeirach for a relative who
the beginning half of the
is ill, everything we do as
book, would be included
rabbis on the bimah and
in the Torah when it seems
throughout our communal
to address rituals which
ritual is done publicly. And
would only interest the
if we ever wander from the
priests. Why should the
script for whatever reason,
rest of us have to read a
we let the congregation
priestly manual?
know why.
The answer is clear.
As we approach Pesach,
For the book is also an
I would urge you to think
.-11A■
instruction manual for the
about this idea and how
Rabbi Robert
one who would bring a
it affects the seder. This
Dobrusin
sacrifice and the individu-
moment is so full of magic
Special to the
al who brought a sacrifice
and mystery in so many
Jewish News
deserves to know what
ways, as we step out of
the kohen was going to do
time to re-create in a
on his or her behalf. For a person to
symbolic way the first Passover night
participate sincerely and wholeheart- thousands of years ago.
edly in this ritual, he or she needed
Yet, everything we do and every-
to know what it was all about, what
thing we say is done in full view of
the theology behind
the gathered family
it was and how their
and friends, adults
lives were going to
and children alike,
change after the
fully documented
sacrifice had been
in the Haggadah,
brought.
open for all to see.
It is true that there
Truly, there is
was some mystery
some mystery in
involved in some of the sacrifices.
our ritual as we consider questions
For example, I assume that when
about the efficacy and meaning of
the High Priest performed the Yom
prayer and how God is involved in
Kippur sacrifice in the Holy of Holies, our ritual. But, in the end we are all
hidden from sight of the people gath- greatly enriched by the openness of
ered outside, that there might have
our most sacred rituals, which truly
been some secret rituals known only
makes Judaism a religion for all
to him; but even in this, the holiest
Jews, not just the "spiritual leaders"
sacrifice of the year, the people had
of the time.
a general idea of what was happen-
ing behind the closed doors, for the
Robert Dobrusin is rabbi of Beth Israel
Mishnah describes it in detail. They
Congregation in Ann Arbor.
had to know, since it was their rela-
tionship with God which was on the
line.
Conversations
One of the hallmarks of Jewish
How can we involve ourselves
ritual is its openness. Nothing hap-
in rituals even more deeply?
pens over the course of the Jewish
What steps do we need to take
year which is not fully anticipated,
to make sure that we are taking
fully explained and fully open for all
full advantage of Judaism's
to see.
openness and accessibility?
Other than a brief private con-

We're e nriched by
the ope nness of
our sacr ed rituals.