Sacrifices

God Ordained Sacrifice, the Torah Prescribed it, and the Jews and Gentiles of the earlier days performed it, what's the big deal anyway?

Yesterday, when I finished praying, I was sitting on my prayer mat while studying the Bible. I remember that I was reading from Shemot (Exodus) then came a mosquito with her intent of biting me. She succeeded; feeling itchy, I struck her to eternity. Kind of evil huh?

Then it came to me, is this has anything to do with Sacrifices offered in the Temple? Perhaps is it related to the Sacrifices at all? I came to a hypothesis; this has definitely something to do with Qorbanot (Sacrifices) or a parallel exists between this incident and the Qorbanot. Then I started to investigate.

The parallel I drew so far is this: If I do not strike the mosquito, she will caused me discomfort. If I 'sacrificed' her, she will 'save' me from discomfort. His could have a lesser parallel to the Sacrifice if we view it in a superficial way, but when we really truly comprehend about Qorbanot, this is pure nonsense.

However, some Sages do allude to my idea of a scape-goat. The offerings brought for Passover, Shavuot (the Giving of the Torah), and Sukkot obliged the presenter of the Offering to observe the whole process. It also requires of the owner to put his hand on the animal's head while resting his weight on it, connecting to it as an extension of himself. Then the animal will be killed in front of the presenter. A very unsettling thing indeed, however, when we truly think of it, that animal could be you, it has whatever you have and maybe the only difference is that it does not possess a human soul.

This serves as a reminder that life and death could be just a minute or even a split second apart. This is the reason why we need Sacrificial rite. After the Sacrifice is performed, some of the blood will be put in a vessel and been placed on the altar. Certain fats are burnt on the altar and part of the meats are given to the Cohen.

What does this mean then? The analogy is as below:

Blood

Represents the animal nature of man. In Leviticus 17.11,

'For the soul of the flesh is in the blood and I have assigned it for you upon the altar to provide atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that atones for the soul.'

What God Has Said about blood, we can it from this verse:

'Only flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.' Genesis 9.4,

Why we can't eat Blood? This is because Blood is the source of life. Then why is it atoning to the Human Soul? This is because blood is the source of Life that God Wants us to bring offering to Him. Life is Given by God to any living thing. It is not our right to eat Blood as Blood is almost equivalent to the Soul He Gave everyone. Therefore God Requires of it back and in doing so, we receives atonement.

However, one shouldn't be crazy about blood sacrifice as not only blood is atoning. Blood is only one of the way; there are various other ways for obtaining forgiveness from God. Also, one is not to wantonly destroy life to take of the blood. When the animals are slaughtered for Sacrificial purpose in the Temple, they are done humanely, and as painless as possible for the animals. There is a story told of Baal Shem Tov, he reprimanded his child because he plucked off a leaf from a tree they are resting under. He then proceeds to remind his son not to do unnecessary damage to life.

Fats

Fats often represents our desire as it is almost universal that fatty piece of meat is the most tantalising. This is why it represents the desire of the human nature. Why is it burnt? This is because this signifies the elevation of desires to a level appropriate in the Eyes of God. Desire, such as appetite, and lust should be elevated to a healthy level where control is crucial.

The Flesh

The sharing of the portions of the flesh to the Cohen that helped with the sacrifice remind us that all in this world is not ours. They are God's Possession and He Desire of us to share our wealth as well as our possessions. Nothing truly 'belongs' to us.

The above scenario is typical for Holiday offerings and there are still a lot of offerings I haven't covered.

The Esoteric Value

The most appropriate of all understanding came from the esoteric interpretation of this act of Sacrifice. If God Prescribe it, it means that it must have a reason instead of blatantly fulfilling the desire of primitive man as in Pagan rites (this is, very loosely, a RAMBAM's view). The Esoteric Tradition maintains that Sacrifice does what prayer cannot: elevating your spiritual aspect as well as your physical aspect.

You partake of your Sacrifice, and it became a part of you after digestion and assimilation. Isn't this as mundane as another eating of meal? However, it has something extra in it, your act of Sacrifice has made it Holy, and it is no difference in providing you the necessary nutrient but it provides a degree of Holiness in the meal you are eating. This is how it touches your physical; the essence of the meal.

In the Temple where Sacrifice is performed, it is the portal where every transformation begins. When Offerings are brought there, it will ascend to Heaven through that place. It is where Jacob has his dream about the Angel ascending and descending a ladder to Heaven. That is the place to Heaven, a portal. This is where the transformation of the physical to spiritual once a sacrifice is offered.

The Sages told of the Sacrifices are atoning to the Angels. As they are spiritual beings, they received all this back through the transformation of the physical to spiritual. Remember the Blood? This is where it goes; when the blood are offered, its life energy goes back to God, thus providing atonement for our Soul. You have elevated an animal to the Heavenly realm too, however this is usually viewed as cruelty to normal human. I understand their view as we cannot fully comprehend what is going on.

However, one must remember that it is not truly the Blood that atones for our soul. It is the doing of the deed of offering the Blood that provides atonement for the Soul. It is one of the Commandment for the Jews to keep. One cannot consume Blood because blood is used for atoning for the Soul. Says who? Says God.

The Blood just serves as a tool to help you in focusing. If one lacks the focus needed to bring the offering, he is not atoned. Forgiveness comes from repentance, not from slaughtering someone or something. It is also possible to atone for our sin through repentance without any of this and I am talking about true atonement.

In this time, the Jews still offered 'Sacrifice'. This is according to Hosea 14.3 which says thus:

'Take with you words, and return unto HaShem; say unto Him: “Forgive all iniquity, and accept that which is good; so will we render for bullocks the offering of our lips.”'

What is their Sacrifice? Their words of Prayer. The Jews are commanded to offer Sacrifices twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Also, there will be a burning of leftover in the evening.

This is why they have three times of prayers nowadays. This is the basis of Noachides to pray three times a day too, corresponding to the two sacrifices and the burning of leftovers in the evening. However, we are lucky as Gentiles can offer Sacrifice wherever we want. I hope to get clarification from this, and the Laws pertaining to our Sacrifice. Any helpers?

Not just sacrifices we can offer. There are many offerings that we can offer, including Fruits and Wine. However, this is to be done on our 'altar'.

All he above concerns the Jews mostly and for us Gentiles, all this is unnecessary because we are not Commanded to offer Sacrifices to God Almighty. We are Commanded the Sheva Mitzvot, keeping them will ensure our salvation. However, we can always incorporate additional Mitzvot (Commandments) in our life to reap extra rewards if we want to.

As for my personal opinion, I studies this because I am waiting for the Third Temple to be built. When the Temple is built, Gentiles can bring the Burnt Offerings ('Olah) as a sign of submission to God. This is indeed a very spiritual deed; this is the reason I have such deep interest in clarifying this matter to Gentiles audience.

So the conclusion on the mosquito bite? Well, it just spark off all of this to be written... That's all.