Parsha Vayikra וַיִּקְרָא

The book of Leviticus is all too often described as a book that deals merely with sacrifices. While sacrifice and ritual are an important topic in the Leviticus, the third book of the Torah, the major theme of this volume is Kedusha, holiness. Leviticus presents the Jew with a guide for leading a life of holiness as well as ethical, spiritual, and physical purity. Later in Leviticus we read not only of sacrifices but also the laws of Kashruth. The book also contains some of the most important statements of morality ever written, such as “Love your neighbor as yourself”.
Some questions about this momentous book of the Torah:

1.        In Eastern Europe, it has been the custom of Jews to begin teaching the Torah to their children by introducing them to the book of Leviticus first. Only after the child had mastered Vayikrah would he or she be introduced to the books of Genesis and Exodus. Why begin teaching children the third book of the Torah first? What special significance is there in Leviticus for youngsters who are discovering the world of Judaism?

2.        Despite the importance of sacrifices for the Jewish people in ancient Israel, many of the prophets condemned and even made fun of this practice. Hosea, among others, criticized the Jewish people by saying, “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings”. If sacrifices were such an important aspect of the Torah, why were the prophets so critical of them?

3.        The Hebrew word for sacrifice is Korban (Chapter 1, Verse 2). This Hebrew word is derived from the Hebrew root word Karayv - to come closer to God. In what ways did the sacrificial rite help the average Jew come closer to God? What means do we use today, outside of prayer, to come closer to God? How are prayer and Korbanot similar to one another?

4.        Parshat Vayyikra presents a sliding scale of sacrifices based on economic ability. Whether the individual offered a peace offering, a burnt offering, or a sin offering, he was given the right to choose how large an animal he sacrificed. Since the size of the animal apparently did not affect the worth of the offering, why was it necessary to have larger and smaller animals? Why not have a small symbolic sacrifice for everyone?

5.        The sin offering which is described in our parshah (Chapter 4-5) was offered when a sin was committed through error. Why should a person be held accountable if it was only forgetfulness or ignorance that led a person to sin, why should the person be held accountable? When someone commits a wrong against us, do we consider the person’s intentions before criticizing or forgiving him? Why doesn’t the Torah do the same with regard to an unintentional sin?