Parasha Vayikra 5784
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Me
Me
This week we read Parasha Vayikra, Leviticus 1:1-5:26 (6:7), which is the first parasha of Leviticus. Parasha Vayikra in the Torah Scroll has a very unique scribal abnormality, and we see this in every single Torah Scroll in the world. The first word of the Parasha is וַיִקְרָא (Vayikra—which is where we get the Parasha name from) and the final letter of the word is the letter א (Aleph) which is written abnormally small here. And, as I said, you will see this in every single Torah Scroll. There are several traditional views on why the א is written smaller.
One common reason is that since the Aleph is small, at first glance one might read the word without it and pronounce it Vayikar instead of Vayikra. Vayikar is a word we see used in other places in the Torah, such as in Numbers 23:4 when God met with Bilaam. Although Vayikra and Vayikar have similar meanings, Midrash tells us that the word Vayikra (with the aleph) implies a loving, close relationship; whereas Vayikar (without the aleph) implies an accident and spiritual impurity.
Another traditional reasoning is that, being it says וַיִקְרָא אֶל–מֹשֶׁה (Vayikra el-Moshe) “Now Adonai called to Moses” the Torah is relating the humility of Moses even as Adonai is speaking personally and directly to him.
And still a third view is that the Aleph is written smaller because it hints at the still small voice of the One who calls. And as such is relaying that each of us is called to draw near to God, starting with Moses setting such an example in Leviticus 1:1.
Parasha Vayikra begins the discussion on the specifications of Tabernacle service, particularly the sacrificial system. Through these first five chapters of Leviticus we find five different types of korbanot to be brought to the Tabernacle—
• Olah: The “ascending offering” that is wholly raised to God by the fire atop the altar. We read the specifications of the Olah offering in Leviticus 1.
• Minchah: Five varieties of “meal offering” prepared with fine flour, olive oil and frankincense. We read the specifications of the Minchah offering in Leviticus 2.
• Shelamim: The “peace offering,” whose meat was eaten by the one bringing the offering, after parts are burned on the altar and parts are given to the kohanim (priests). We read the specifications of the Shelamim offering in Leviticus 3.
• Chatat: The different types of “sin offering” brought to atone for transgressions committed erroneously by the high priest, the entire community, the king or the ordinary Jew. We read of the specifications of the Chatat offering in Leviticus 4.
• Asham: The “guilt offering” brought by one who has misappropriated property of the Sanctuary, who is in doubt as to whether he transgressed a divine prohibition, or who has committed a “betrayal against G-d” by swearing falsely to defraud a fellow man. And lastly, we read of the specifications of the Asham offering in the Leviticus 5.
(Talk about Andrew and I not fessing up when one of us did something wrong and my dad saying we were both to be punished until one of us owned up to being guilty or ratted out the guilty party.)
We
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God
God
(Set up)
Principle: Both sin and repentance have an effect on our own lives and that of our community.
(Repeat)
Parasha Vayikra
Now Adonai called to Moses and spoke to him out of the Tent of Meeting, saying:
“Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, and tell them: When anyone of you brings an offering to Adonai, you may present your offering of livestock, from the herd or from the flock.
“If his sacrifice is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present a male without blemish. He is to offer it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, so that he may be accepted before Adonai.
Parasha Vayikra
“Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins, but the deed is hidden from the eyes of the community, yet they have done one of Adonai’s mitzvot that are not to be done, then they are guilty.
When the sin that they committed becomes known, then the community is to offer a young bull for a sin offering, and bring it before the Tent of Meeting.
Parasha Vayikra
“When a ruler sins and unwittingly does one of the mitzvot of Adonai his God that are not to be done, then he is guilty.
When his sin that he committed is made known to him, he is to bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish.
Parasha Vayikra
The core of Leviticus 4 (and Leviticus as a whole) is that the sin of anyone in the community effects the whole community, and must be repented of and atoned for…
Likewise, no one is free of the potential for sin or the effect of their sin on the community at large, etc, no matter their rank in society…
Principle: LeParasha Vayikra
And here’s the key, repentance and atonement can’t simply be lip service… It must come with real heart transformation and life and action changes.
If I punch Ben randomly then see it actually hurt him and he’s bleeding and I apologize for doing so, that apology can go a long way. But if after that apology I come by a few days later and punch him again, then apologize when he’s hurt, the apology begins to lose value. And if I continue that same pattern over and over and over again, that apology has absolutely no value at all to him.
The same is true when we walk in sin. When we realize our sin and failure we must repent, and through Messiah that atonement is already freely provided and our sins are forgiven. But, if we continue the same patterns of the same sins over and over and over again, what good is our “repentance” doing? And is it truly repentance if our hearts and lives aren’t actually changing? Or are we simply placating G-d?
This is the heart of what G-d says through Samuel to Saul after Saul spares Agag the Amalekite King and the best of the Amalekite’s herds in this week’s Haftarah:
Samuel said: “Does Adonai delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Adonai? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay heed than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry. Since you have rejected Adonai’s word, He has also rejected you as king.”
Parasha Vayikra
We also see this reality with David when he sins with Bathsheba and when he sins by taking a census of Israel that HaShem didn’t command. Likewise with Solomon as he continually breaks every single command the Torah gives specifically for Israel’s kings in Deuteronomy 17. Their failures all had personal and national consequences, and with both failures repentance and atonement had personal and national restoration.
Principle: Both sin and repentance have an effect on our own lives and that of our community.
Parasha Vayikra
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
The one who believes in Him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not put his trust in the name of the one and only Ben-Elohim.
“Now this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and men loved the darkness instead of the light, because their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed.
But whoever practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be made known that his deeds have been accomplished in God.”
Parasha Vayikra
when My people, over whom My Name is called, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Principle: Both sin and repentance have an effect on our own lives and that of our community.
Parasha Vayikra
Parasha Vayikra
I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy, acceptable to God—which is your spiritual service.
Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Parasha Vayikra
Principle: Both sin and repentance have an effect on our own lives and that of our community.
You
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(Call worship team up and unmute)
We
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