March 14, 2008

Parshat Hashavua: Vayikra (Shabbat Zakhor) Leviticus 1:1-5:26; Deuteronomy 25:17-19

Shabbat Zakhor, the Sabbath of Remembrance, always observed on the Shabbat prior to Purim. On Shabbat Zakhor we read as a Maftir the obligation to remember Amalek who attacked the Israelites in the desert. We are actually obliged to obliterate his name, which clearly is in direct contradiction to the obligation to remember.

The reason we are encouraged to remember Amalek on the Shabbat prior to Purim is made clear in the special Haftarah where we learn that Amalek is a direct ancestor of Haman and the antipathy that began with Amalek for the Jewish people continued down to Haman.

This week, Parshat Vayikra, we will begin Leviticus, the third of the five books of Moses. Unlike the other four books, Vayikra contains virtually no narrative. Also known in the Mishnah as Torat Kohanim, Leviticus primarily contains instructions to the Kohanim/priests. Certainly the book contains other issues as well: dietary laws, a listing of major holy days, etc. However these instructions to Kohanim were never intended to be a secret society. The ritual obligations of the Kohanim were to be available for study for anyone and everyone.

Our particular parashah is a catalog describing the principle types of sacrifices. The term for sacrifice in Hebrew is Korban, which unlike the English word comes from the Hebrew root meaning to come close. Sacrifices were offered by the community and by individuals as a means of felling a closeness to God. The community would offer sacrifices three times daily with an additional sacrifice offered on Shabbat and holy days. Individuals would offer sacrifices as a means of giving thanks for good fortune, asking God for forgiveness for religious wrong doing and other emotional expressions. Each of them is described in our portion.

Shabbat Shalom

Candle lighting: Friday, March 14, 2008 6:57pm