Kahane on the Parsha
Rabbi Meir Kahane- Parshat VaYikra
A SYMBOL OF TRUST
Rabbi Meir Kahane- Parshat VaYikra
A SYMBOL OF TRUST
"And
a soul who brings a minchah sacrifice to G-d..." (Leviticus 2:1). On this
verse, the Rabbis ask, "Why does the Torah alter its language and use the
word 'soul' [instead of 'man']? G-d said, 'Who ordinarily brings a minchah? A
poor person. When he brings a minchah, I consider it as if he offered his soul
to Me'" (Menachot 104b).
The minchah sacrifice, brought by a
poor person, symbolizes dedication and subjugation. That's why it cannot
contain chametz (Leviticus 2:11) since chametz symbolizes arrogance.
The minchah, though, also
symbolizes faith that G-d will give man what he lacks. That's why the Rabbis
called the afternoon prayer - recited when the sun is setting and the world
begins to grow dark - Tefillat Minchah. Precisely when the situation appears
dark and likely to darken further, a person must have faith and pray - and if
he does, G-d will help. That's why the Rabbis declared that "a person
should always be careful to pray Minchah because the prophet Elijah doesn't
answer any prayer save this one" (Berachot 6b).
Incidentally, this understanding of the words "soul" and "minchah" explains why G-d exiled Jacob and his progeny to Egypt. For when Jacob heard that his brother Esau was coming to kill him, he sent him a present - a minchah (Genesis 32:13). In other words, instead of relying on G-d and placing his faith in Him, Jacob placed his faith in the goodwill of Esau. He took the Minchah - which symbolizes faith in G-d - and sent it to Esau.
Incidentally, this understanding of the words "soul" and "minchah" explains why G-d exiled Jacob and his progeny to Egypt. For when Jacob heard that his brother Esau was coming to kill him, he sent him a present - a minchah (Genesis 32:13). In other words, instead of relying on G-d and placing his faith in Him, Jacob placed his faith in the goodwill of Esau. He took the Minchah - which symbolizes faith in G-d - and sent it to Esau.
The Torah alludes to this
sin when it refers to the descent of Jacob and his progeny to Egypt as the
descent of 70 "souls" (Exodus 1:5). "Soul" ordinarily
symbolizes someone who has complete faith, someone who brings a minchah
sacrifice. Since Jacob did not exhibit complete faith, he and his family were
sent into exile in Egypt, and the Torah reminds us of his sin by using the word
"soul" in this context.
Peirush HaMaccabee
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