Parashat vaYikra begins the Torah’s presentation of
the laws of korbanot.
In his commentary on Ḥumash,
Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch stresses the inaccuracy of the translation of korban
as “sacrifice,” since that “implies the idea of giving something up that is of
value to oneself for the benefit of another, or of having to do without
something of value, ideas which are .. diametrically opposed” to the real
meaning of korban. Rabbi Hirsch notes that the root word of korban
is karov, to come near, and understands its meaning to be coming
into a closer relationship with God. In Rabbi Hirsch’s words: “it is nearness
to God which is striven for by a korban.”
This understanding of korban
explains the connection between korbanot and Eretz Yisrael.
The Holy Alshikh quotes
our Sages’ comment that of all the lands of the world, only the Holy Land is
supervised in a direct personal manner by God, while all other lands are
entrusted by Him to a ministering angel. Thus, Alshikh explains that a Jew can
connect to God and to his own spiritual roots in the Holy Land more easily than
in any other land.
May we achieve this
connection with the Creator speedily in our days, with the rebuilding of the Temple.
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