MARCH 19-20, 2010
THE PARSHA PAGE
SOME LIGHT TORAH- Eliana Light
There are stories from the
Tanach that some Jewish
children learn in Hebrew
School—Gan Eden (Garden
of Eden) and Yitziat Mitzraim
(Exodus from Egypt), for
example. But there is a
subject in the Torah that
teachers from Preschool to
High School almost always
refuse to touch: Korbanot
or ritual sacrifices. It’s a
sensitive subject; it raises
theological questions and all
the blood can make a person
very uncomfortable.
For all these reasons,
Vayikra has never been my
favorite parsha, so I was a
bit apprehensive beginning
my 11th grade Tanach class
at Solomon Schechter High
A publication of Hillel at Brandeis
Editors: Chaya Bender, Brian Blumenthal
Contributors: Eliana Light,, Samuel Thompson
School. While other students
were learning nevi'im, or
“prophets,” we were going to
study korbanot. Our teacher
could sense our discomfort
in our first class. “This is not
about the blood and gore of
sacrifice,” he explained. “This
is about finding the holiness
and value in an ancient
ritual.”
Still a bit apprehensive,
I took on the challenge. It
was very difficult, but the
more I struggled, the more
I learned. With each korban
came a new level of holiness,
a new way of looking at God.
I began to appreciate the role
that korbanot played in the
lives of our people, and how
it connected them with God
and the community. Through
learning about korbanot
and immersing myself in a
difficult subject, I realized
that I can conquer the
unknown. As I questioned
my theology and struggled
with my heritage, I grew as a
person.
Every challenge we take
upon ourselves, no matter
how uncomfortable it may
feel at first, adds a level of
holiness to our lives, helps
us learn about ourselves,
and connects us to our
communities. May we each
learn from the challenges that
present themselves, and may
they help us grow, enriching
our lives with meaning, love,
and holiness.
VAYIKRA
Parsha Points
God commands Moses in the
ways of giving sacrifices:
» "Acending offering" (olah) is
burned completely for God
» "Meal offering": five types of
offerings that are made with fine
flour, olive oil and frankincense
» "peace offering" (shelamim)
is eaten by the one bringing the
offering, after parts are burned
on the Altar and parts are given
to the Kohanim (priests)
» "sin offering" (chatat) is
for transgressions committed
by the High Priest, the entire
community, the king, or the
ordinary Jew
» "guilt offering" (asham) is
for someone who is in doubt as
to whether one transgressed a
prohibition
BRO SHABBATON SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
Hillel Oneg: The Jewish American
Question, with Sammy Marks
(After dinner in Feldberg
Lounge)
SATURDAY
Morning Services
(10:20 am in the Lurias, Upper
Sherman)
Lunch & Learn: Sacrifice &
Hunger (12-1:30 pm in Shapiro
Campus Center Multipurpose
Room)
Eco Kashrut: The Kashrut of the
21st Century? (2-3:30 pm in
SCC Multipurpose Room)
Havdalah (7:10 pm in SCC
Multipurpose Room)
‫ה׳ ניסן תש״ע‬
‫ויקרא‬