GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR,
YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE
In this week’s Parsha, Vayikrah, the Torah introduces the various korbanos (offerings) that were brought in the Mishkan. The first animal offering is the bull, the second is the sheep and goats and the third animal is the bird offering. The first paragraph begins, “If from the bull is his offering…” and the second paragraph begins, “If from the sheep is his offering”. The third paragraph begins slightly differently, “If from the birds is his offering to HaShem…”
The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh notes that by the animals it does not identify the offering as being an offering to HaShem and by the bird the Torah refers to it as “an offering to HaShem”. In explaining this discrepancy he introduces the verse in Yishayahu 57:16 “So says the exalted and uplifted One, Who resides for eternity and Whose Name is holy; I abide in exaltedness and holiness, but I am with the broken one and lowly of spirit to revive their spirit and their heart.” The Talmud teaches that although HaShem’s place is exalted and holy, nevertheless, He lowers His Presence to be with the lowly spirit.
The accurate definition of korban is not ‘offering’. The name “offerings” implies a gift that one offers to HaShem, which is not what a korban is. HaShem has no need for our gifts. Korban derives from ‘karov’ which is an adjective meaning ‘close to’ or l’kareiv a verb which means ‘to bring close’. The intent of the korban was to bring the owner of the korban closer to HaShem. However, that closeness was not generated by giving an animal gift to HaShem; Ha-Shem has enough animals without this one. The closeness was generated by the inspiration which the owner receives through bringing it upon the Altar.
People of stature would not bring birds for korbanos be-cause they give off a bad smell when burnt and it is small and inexpensive. The poor folk were the ones who brought the birds as korbanos.
Based on the verse from Yishayahu, the Ohr Hachaim ex-plains that since HaShem, Whose place residence is other-wise on high and exalted, changes His location to be near the unfortunate and lowly spirited. When this poor fellow brings his bird korban to the Mishkan, even before it is placed on the Altar, that korban is already a korban to Ha-Shem, because HaShem is right there next to him. Contrast this to the wealthy fellow whose korban is an ornate animal and comes to be inspired through his korban to bring himself close to HaShem. Until his animal is sacrificed and brought up upon the Altar he has not yet achieved closeness to HaShem. The wealthy fellow must wait until the procedure is completed to be close to HaShem.
This is the reason for the bird having the distinction of being referred to as a “korban to Hashem” even before it is slaughtered.
Given this insight, the Ohr Hachaim points out how grateful we must be to the poor and the needy among us. Not only do the needy provide others with the incredible mitzvah and merit of giving tzedakah, but they are the ones who bring HaShem’s Presence within our community. Be near to those who are lowly spirited and despondent. Lift them up and you will discover how uplifted you become. We become nearer to HaShem as we make ourselves nearer to them.
Have a very safe and very wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind