Vayikra

In this parsha

The book of Leviticus begins as God calls to Moshe from the Tent of Meeting and details the laws of the offerings brought upon the altar. The Torah describes the olah, the burnt offering consumed entirely by fire; the mincha, a meal offering of flour and oil; and the shelamim, a peace offering shared among altar, kohanim, and owner. It then turns to the offerings that atone for unintentional wrongdoing, whether by an individual, a leader, the whole community, or the anointed priest, and the guilt offering for misusing sacred property or swearing falsely.

Themes

• Korban as inner self-surrender
• The loving call before the mitzvah
• The angelic point in every Jew
• Da'as as lived awareness
• The heart outweighs quantity
• The small aleph, Torah into deed

Must-read teachings

1. 1The loving call: dveikus before every mitzvahThe Midrash on "Bless Hashem, His angels" (Tehillim 103:20) — "His angels," but not all His angels. The Midrash notes the precise wording: only certain angels are called to "bless Hashem," not all of them, because not all can withstand stan…תרמ"ד
2. 2Korban as inner self-sacrificeIn the name of my grandfather, of blessed memory , on the teaching in Tana D'vei Eliyahu and the Midrash: whoever recites the verse "and he shall slaughter… to the north before Hashem," the Holy One remembers for him the Akeidah of Yitzchak…תרמ"ג
3. 3Every Action a Divine MissionIn the Midrash on the verse "Bless Hashem, you His angels" (Tehillim 103:20): even the lower beings, who are not able to stand firm in the tasks appointed to them, are nonetheless written of as "His angels (malachav)." The Sefas Emes opens …תרל"א
4. 4Small aleph: Torah contracting into deedOn the matter of the small aleph (aleph ze'ira) of "Vayikra." The Sefas Emes addresses the famous small letter aleph at the end of the word "Vayikra" that opens the sefer. For there are large letters (asvan ravrevin), medium letters, and sm…תרנ"ה
5. 5Selfless intent draws down the highest holinessAnd in the Midrash, a parable: in every place [in the building of the Mishkan] the king's "name" was inscribed — "as Hashem commanded Moshe"; [the king said:] "I am inside and he is outside — call him that he should enter" — see there. The …תרל"ז
6. 6Hidden light revealed through concealmentIn the Midrash: the upper beings are able to withstand the charges of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, etc., "all," etc. The Sefas Emes opens with the Midrash that distinguishes between the upper worlds (the malachim) and the lower world, noting that th…תרמ"ו
7. 7The soul as Hashem's witness through the bodyIn the Midrash: "And a soul, when it sins... and he is a witness" (Vayikra 5:1) — as it is written, "You are My witnesses" (Yeshayahu 43:10), "You have been shown to know" (Devarim 4:35). The Sefas Emes links the "witness" of the korban ola…תרמ"ט
8. 8Moshe's prophecy empowered by the nationIn the Midrash: "Mighty in strength, who fulfill His word" (Tehillim 103:20)… The Sefas Emes opens with the verse praising those "mighty in strength" who carry out Hashem's word. For at the receiving of the Torah it would have been fitting …תרמ"א