ON THE PARSHA
          Parshas VaYikra

          by Dovid Lipman, Jerusalem


The World Of The Supernatural

     (1:9) "A fire-offering to Hashem." The Ramban here
explains that the purpose of a korban is to arouse
repentant feelings within the person, who can understand
that he himself should really be offered up to Hashem,
on account of his sins. This explains why the man must
lean on the animal, to show that the animal is in place
of himself, to remind himself that what is about to be
done to the animal, he himself deserves.

A Time To Laugh

     (1:4) "...and will be accepted for him..." A quote
from Maseches Purim 1b - We found that 'V'Nirtza' (and
it will be accepted) is said on him, not that one should
do it for his friend (Z'vachim 4b), from which we may
infer that one is not obligated to wake up ones friend
for Nirtzah, if he fell asleep earlier in the Seder.

Worthy Of Note

     (1:2) "If a man shall bring, from among you..." The
Ohr HaChayim suggests that the extra "from you" hints to
what Rashi explained in Ki Seitzei, that after the sin of
the golden calf, Moshe lost some of his status, because
his high level was dependent on the fact that the Jews
needed him. Rashi here said on "VaYikra" that Moshe knew
the term showed a special closeness, a level he had
reached, and our pasuk can be read, "If a man is brought
close (i.e. you, Moshe), it is because he is from among
you (i.e. the Jewish people).

From the Gemara

     (1:1) Yoma 4b - A person should "call to" someone,
that is, address him formally, before he speaks with him,
as we see Hashem himself did with Moshe.
     (1:9) Menachos 110a - The korbanos are all called
"a pleasing aroma", whether the expensive, medium, or
cheaper offerings, to teach that what counts to Hashem
is only whether the person's intentions are what they
should be.
     (3:9) Pesachim 3b - There was once a non-Jew who
boasted that each year, he tricked the kohanim into
letting him have from the korban Pesach. 'But do they let
you have the fat-tail?' was the reply. Enraged, he
demanded that part the next Pesach. Knowing that the
fat-tail is not eaten at all, but burnt, the kohanim
discovered the imposter, thanks to that wise reply.

Rare And Unusual Words

     (3:6) "Tzone". Not a rare word at all, this word is
often translated 'sheep', but actually is a generic term
for sheep and goats (as we see here that the two 'subsections'
are given separate treatment), and the singular form for
it is 'seh'. Therefore, the korban Pesach, a 'seh', maybe
be either a sheep or a goat.

Mitzvah Digest

115) One must only treat the korban Olah acc. to the halacha.
116) One must only treat the korban Mincha acc. to the halacha.
117) One may not offer leaven or honey to Hashem.
118) One may never interrupt the use of salt in korbanos.
119) One must salt every korban.
120) If a court rules incorrectly, they must bring a special korban.
121) If one performs certain transgressions unknowingly, one
     must bring a korban Chatas.
122) One must testify any testimony he knows, when it is needed.
123) If one performs certain transgressions unknowingly, one
     must bring a korban Asham.
124) One may not fully sever the neck of a bird brought as a Chatas.
125) One may not include oil in a sin-offering.
126) One may not include frankincense in a a sin-offering.
127) If one profanes sacred property, one must replace it, and add
     a fifth in repayment.
128) If one is uncertain if he has done certain sins, he must
     bring a korban Asham Talui.
129) If one steals, he must return the stolen object.
130) One must bring a korban Asham for certain specific
     transgressions.