Published March 25, 2010
1) Why is a Mincha, which is only a mere flour offering, considered KODESH KODASHIM, the holiest level (6:10), while a Sh’lamim sacrifice which is an actual animal is called KODHSEI KALIM, a lower level of holiness?
2) Why does the Torah repeat the command for bread to be eaten with the Todah offering (7:12 and 7:13)?
3) Why does the Torah have to relate that Aharon and his sons did ALL THE THINGS WHICH G-D COMMANDED THROUGH MOSHE (8:36)? Why would we have ever thought that they would veer at all from G-D’s commands?
Answers - Ponder the questions first and then look here
1) The Abarbanel teaches that the Mincha gets elevated status because of who offers it. Poor people who cannot afford to bring anything else offer these flour offerings and those who offer the most that they can for G-D are on the highest of levels.
2) The Netziv answers that the Torah wants to teach that the bread is actually the most important part of the Todah offering. Why? because the amount of bread which was required to be eaten in a limited period of time required the person to invite others to join him in consuming the sacrifice. This would lead to his relating the good which G-D had done for him as the cause of the Todah offering and thus the purpose of this sacrifice, to publicize the good which G-D has done will be fulfilled.
3) The Chatam Sofer explains that sometimes people respond with humility to positions of respect and one could imagine Aharon and his sons suggesting that they were not worthy of the lofty opportunities which G-D’s commands presented them. The Torah, therefore records that despite their great humility, they Accepted G-D’s commands and immediately did as they were told.
Points to Ponder is prepared by Rabbi Dov Lipman who teaches at Reishit Yerushalayim and Machon Maayan in Beit shemesh and is the author of “DISCOVER: Answers for Teenagers (and Adults) to Questions about the Jewish Faith” (Feldheim) and “TIMEOUT: Sports Stories as a Game Plan for Spiritual Success” (Devora) His Hagada commentary, “FOUNDATIONS” will be published by Targum before Pesach
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
© 2012 OU. All rights reserved.