Page 1 - Announcements Mon. Mar. 15

Dedicated in memory of Alice Setton

Parshat Vayikra March 20, 2021 7 Nissan, 5781
Rabbi Sacks on Parshat Vayikra
TORAH
ARTSCROLL 544 Sacrifices, the subject of Likewise Hosea: “For I desire of bulls and lambs and
HERTZ 410 this week’s parsha, were goodness, not sacrifice; goats. When you come to
central to the religious obedience to God, rather than appear before Me, who has
HAFTORAH life of biblical Israel. We burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). asked this of you, this
ARTSCROLL 1165 see this not only by the We find a similar critique in trampling of My courts?
HERTZ 424 sheer space devoted to several Psalms. “Were I Stop bringing meaningless
them in the Torah, but hungry, I would not tell you, offerings! Your incense is
Times also by the fact that they for Mine is the world and all it detestable to Me’” (Is. 1:11-
occupy its central book,
13).
holds. Do I eat the flesh of
Vayikra. We have not had bulls, or drink the blood of
Weekly Times the sacrificial service goats?” (Ps. 50:8-15). “Lord, This entire line of thought,
since the destruction of open my lips, and let my sounded by many voices
Shacharit: Sun 8:30 am mouth declare Your praise. You and sustained across
the second Temple
Mon. - Fri. 7:45 am centuries, is extraordinary.
almost 2000 years ago. do not want me to bring
What is deeply relevant sacrifices; You do not desire The people were being
Scholars’ Kollel 9:00 am criticized not for disobeying
today, however, is the burnt offerings. True sacrifice
Mincha 6:50 pm critique of sacrifices we to God is a contrite spirit; God, God’s law but for obeying it.
Sacrifices were
find among the Prophets You will not despise a contrite
of the first Temple. That and crushed heart” (Ps. 51:17- commanded. Their offering
critique was sharp and 19). was a sacred act performed
in a holy place. What then
Shabbat Times deep and formed many of aroused the Prophets’ anger
their most powerful Jeremiah seems to suggest
Candle Lighting 6:48 pm addresses. One of the that the sacrificial order was and rebuke? It was not that
earliest was delivered by not God’s initial intention: “For they were opposed to
Friday Night 6:50 pm the Prophet Samuel: when I freed your fathers from sacrifice as such. Jeremiah
Mincha the land of Egypt, I did not foresaw the day when
“Does the Lord delight in speak with them or command “People shall come from the
Hashkama Minyan 8:00 am burnt offerings and them concerning burnt towns of Judah and from
sacrifices as much as in
Parsha Shiur 8:30 am obedience to the Lord’s offerings or sacrifice. But this the environs of Jerusalem…
command? Surely, is what I commanded them: bringing burnt offerings and
Main 9:00 am obedience is better than Do My bidding, that I may be sacrifices, meal offerings
sacrifice, compliance than your God and you may be My and frankincense, and
Beit Midrash 9:15 am people; walk only in the way bringing offerings of
the fat of rams” (1 Sam. thanksgiving to the House
Youth Minyan 9:45 am 15:22). that I enjoin upon you, that it
may go well with you” (Jer. of the Lord” (Jer. 17:26).
Gemara Shiur 6:10 pm Amos said in the name of 7:22-23). Strongest of all is Likewise Isaiah: “I will bring
God: “If you offer Me the passage at the beginning them to My sacred mount
Mincha 6:40 pm burnt offerings—or your of the book of Isaiah that we and let them rejoice in My
meal offerings— I will not read on Shabbat Chazon house of prayer. Their burnt
Shabbat Ends 7:57 pm accept them; I will pay (before Tisha b’Av): “‘What offerings and sacrifices shall
no heed to your gifts of need have I of all your be welcome on My altar, for
Latest Times for
Shema/Shemoneh Esrei fatlings…But let justice sacrifices?’ says the Lord. ‘I My house shall be called a
well up like water, have more than enough of house of prayer for all
Mar. 20 10:00/11:01 am righteousness like a burnt offerings, of rams and peoples” (Is. 56:7).
never-ending the fat of fattened animals; I
Mar. 27 9:53/10:55 am stream” (Amos 5:21-24). have no pleasure in the blood
Next Shabbat Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by
Tzav
Isaac & Sima Kohannim and Mansour & Yafa Farhadian
Candle Lighting 6:55 pm In commemoration of the 1st yahrzeit of their mother
Mincha 7:00 pm Manzal bat Nissan z”l