(Leviticus 1:2) Animal Sacrifice: "WHEN" not "IF" or "YOU SHOULD"
Parsha Vayikra Study
(Leviticus 1:2) Animal Sacrifice: "WHEN" not "IF" or "YOU SHOULD"
In a previous commentary about the Laws, Torah, and Genesis, it was taught that Torah was given to the world before it was given to the Jewish people on Mount Sanai. Indeed, Hashem declares through King Solomon in Proverbs that His Holy Wisdom was the first thing created in the entire universe.
This holy wisdom of Hashem is seen in Genesis 3 as the "Tree of Life"--imagine a tree of nothing but Torah Scrolls!
Adam and Havah were not prevented from eating from this Tree of Life. Indeed, they were allowed to eat of it and every other tree besides the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Thus, at the outset of creation, there was utter peace between Hashem and all of creation because everyone (and everything) kept Hashem's mitzvot. This peace and harmony changed, however, when sin entered in and the mitzvot of Hashem were not kept.
In the beginning of the Book of Leviticus, we see hints that laws were known before Torah was given. Notice that Hashem did not say, "You shall offer burnt offerings." Instead Hashem commands Moshe to tell the Jewish people, "When any person presents an offering..." (Leviticus 1:2).
The word WHEN assumes the Jewish people were already bringing offerings. In the lives of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, and others we see offerings being made routinely. Sacrifices were present in the lives of non-Jews and Jewish ancestors pre-Mount Sinai.
If we think of the potential weight and significance of this fact, we can see how eternal peace and forgiveness can extend from Hashem to both Jews and Non-Jews alike, if only all would perform teshuvah, and serve Hashem by keeping His mitzvot. Prayerfully the Third Temple will be rebuilt speedily in our day so that the offerings will be more than "prayers of our lips" but fulfilled mitzvot of Hashem--the sealing of the eternal Peace-Treaty, which Hashem has made with Jewish people (and the world) through Torah and the Sacrificial System.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Kimberly Davis