CONGREGATION MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO

Purposes of Offerings

Contrary to popular belief, the purpose of Offerings was not simply to obtain forgiveness from sin.  The offerings that required one to bring different types of items was G-d’s way to bring his people together, and build both solidarity between us and our G-d on the one hand and among us on the other.

Certain Korbanot were brought purely for the purpose of communing with G-d and becoming closer to Him.  Others were brought for the purpose of expressing thanks, love, or gratitude to G-d.  Others were used to cleanse a person of impurity (which does not necessarily have anything to do with sin).  And yes, some Korbanot were brought for purposes of atonement.

Types of Korbanot

There are many different types of Korbanot.  While I am no expert on this subject and I would encourage you to talk to Rabbi about this, I will try to highlight the major types of Korbanot, their names, and their characteristics and how they fit into the messianic era. 

Olah:   Burnt Offering

Perhaps the best-known class of offerings is the burnt offering.  It was the oldest and commonest sacrifice, and represented submission to G-d's will.  The Hebrew word for burnt offering is olah, from the root Ayin-Lamed-Heh, meaning ascension.  It is the same root as the word aliyah, which is used to describe moving to Israel or ascending to the podium to read from a Torah scroll.  An olah is completely burnt on the outer altar; no part of it is eaten by anyone.  Because the offering represents complete submission to G-d's will, the entire offering is given to G-d (i.e., it cannot be used after it is burnt).  It expresses a desire to commune with G-d.  An olah could be brought from cattle, sheep, goats, or even doves. 
 

Zebach Sh'lamim:  Peace Offering

A peace offering is an offering expressing thanks or gratitude to G-d for His bounties and mercies.  The Hebrew term for this type of offering is zebach sh'lamim (or sometimes just sh'lamim), which is related to the word shalom, meaning peace or wholeness.  A representative portion of the offering is burnt on the altar, a portion is given to the kohanim, and the rest is eaten by the offerer and his family; thus, everyone gets a part of this offering.  This category of offerings includes thanksgiving-offerings, free will-offerings, and offerings made after fulfillment of a vow.  This class of offerings has nothing to do with sin.
 

Chatat:   Sin Offering

A sin offering is an offering to atone for and purge a sin.  It is an expression of sorrow for the error and a desire to be reconciled with G-d.  The Hebrew term for this type of offering is chatat, from the word "chayt", meaning missing the mark.  A chatat could only be offered for unintentional sins committed through carelessness or ignorance, not for intentional malicious sins.  The size of the offering varied according to the nature of the sin and the financial means of the sinner.   Some chatatot are individual and some are communal.  Communal offerings represent the interdependence of the community, and the idea that we are all responsible for each other's sins.  A few special chatatot could not be eaten, but for the most part, for the average person's personal sin, the chatat was eaten by the kohanim.

Asham:   Guilt Offering

A guilt offering is an offering to atone for sins of stealing things from the altar, for when you are not sure whether you have committed a sin or what sin you have committed, or for breach of trust.  The Hebrew word for a guilt offering is asham.  When there was doubt as to whether a person committed a sin, the person would bring an asham, rather than a chatat, because bringing a chatat would constitute admission of the sin, and the person would have to be punished for it.  If a person brought an asham and later discovered that he had in fact committed the sin, he would have to bring a chatat at that time.  An asham was eaten by the kohanim.
 

Food and Drink Offerings

A meal offering (minchah) represented the devotion of the fruits of man's work to G-d, because it was not a natural product, but something created through man's effort.  A representative piece of the offering was burnt on the fire of the altar, but the rest was eaten by the kohanim.

It is interesting that when one looks behind the reason why G-d put in the offering system, it was entirely consistent with what Yeshua said, namely to love G-d will all your heart, mind soul and strength and to love one another as yourself.   Thus, we know that we still have the intent of the offering system today but it has been modified.  We know that Yeshua has become the ultimate Chatat and Asham offering.  We know we should be tithing to the shul and becoming a member to show Olah or submission to G-d.  We also know that if G-d has somehow given additional blessings to you in your life, you should be performing Zebach.  Finally, we know we should continue to bring food for our events to show minchah to the L-rd.  (and let me add in there that for single guys, I consider pop and chips as minchah)

However, we must not simply do this out of routine.  We must do it to show love to G-d but also to one another and this is where I feel that the L-rd wants me to focus on.  Let me explain.  If you are tithing and showing up regularly, you have a good start to doing a good job with Olah.  However, I think we still need to work on Zebach.  In today’s world, our most precious commodity seems to be time and our skills.  Unfortunately, sometimes we neglect that fact that we should be offering these up to the L-rd and others first rather than to ourselves.  Now I not saying to drop everything and sign up for rabbi school.  No, what I am saying is try to use your skills and time to show the L-rd that you not only love him but also one another.

There are many things that go on behind the scenes at Melech.   One is the school.  The work done by the Hacketts and the team is incredible and is a great blessing.  However, all they are doing is fulfilling Zebach and trying to fulfill those two basic commandments.  Another is the dance and music teams.  Every Thursday they come to practice and rehearse so that we have beautiful song to praise the L-rd with.  However, all they are doing Zebach and trying to fulfill those two basic commandments.

Now, I am not one to speak.  I too need to work on Zebach and I will try.  In fact, if you ever want to talk about the ram who keeps wandering off and eating bad grass and having his shepherd have to wander all over the place to find him, come talk to me.  In fact, you should have seen Rabbi before I came so many years ago.  He was a lot younger and had a lot less gray hair, let me say that!.  But I digress. 

What I am really trying to encourage you to do is fulfill the intent of today’s Torah reading and what G-d wants from us.  Showing your love to G-d is a good start but move to the next level by starting showing your love to one another.  Let me give a few examples.  Some of you are very good at Hebrew, start helping others to start the same journey and don’t leave it up to just one person.  Others are really good at organizing things, start helping Karl and Rabbi with one thing so that in turn, they can study more and return the love through better insight and teaching on the word of the L-rd.  And, like Rabbi said last week, some of you are getting a better understanding of the word so now start showing others how you do it and start holding additional studies to help the ‘newbies.’ 

Overall, don’t stop trying to fulfill the intent the L-rd had with the offering system.  Trying to fulfill this part of the Torah is still a good base to show the L-rd that you love him.  However, let’s start working on the second part.  Let us all try to determine ways so we can come together, build unity and show that we love one another by offering up our time and skills to what needs to be done around here at the Shul.  In turn, he will bless you.  How do I know that?   Because my standing here is living proof that it works. G-d will bless you if you try to fulfill the intent of his offertory system.

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Baruch HaShem
By Gerry Anderson