Shalom JTF readers,
I am behind schedule tonight... I was again entertaining guests and time flew by... I have not even eaten dinner yet...
Anyway this week we are studying the portion of Vayikra, the first portion from 'Leviticus'...
While the previous portions have been concerned with the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) this weeks portion starts to teach the various offerings which were to be made by the Kohenim (priests) on the altar.
From Chabad's Parsha in a Nutshell:
G‑d calls to Moses from the Tent of Meeting, and communicates to him the laws of the korbanot, the animal and meal offerings brought in the Sanctuary. These include:
• The “ascending offering” (olah) that is wholly raised to G‑d by the fire atop the altar;
• Five varieties of “meal offering” (minchah) prepared with fine flour, olive oil and frankincense;
• The “peace offering” (shelamim), 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);
• The different types of “sin offering” (chatat) brought to atone for transgressions committed erroneously by the high priest, the entire community, the king or the ordinary Jew;
• The “guilt offering” (asham) 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.
Let us start with Rabbi Richman once again: