Shabbat Parashat Acharei Mot - 5784

Shabbat Parashat Acharei Mot - 5784

Rabbi Hal Miller

  Any man from the house of Israel who will slaughter an ox or a sheep or a goat in the

  camp, or who will slaughter outside the camp [Vayikra 17:3]

  And he has not brought it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to bring it as an offering

  to God before the Tabernacle of God, it shall be considered as blood for that man [Vayikra 17:4]

  So that the children of Israel will bring their sacrifices that they slaughter on the open field,

  and they shall bring them to God to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to the Kohen and they

  shall slaughter them as sacrifices of peace offerings to God [Vayikra 17:5]

These three verses yield many questions. Why are only these three animal types listed? What

is the purpose of locations of slaughtering mentioned? What is really behind these verses?

Ramban answers the first of those questions, why these three animals, "anyone who slaughters

of the three types of animals from which all the sacrifices are brought, ox sheep or goat, they

should bring them all to the entrance of the Mishkan and make of them peace offerings." These

are the animals permitted for sacrifices, and also kosher for food. Given that, what is the tie to the

location of slaughter and the punishments listed for violating the command to bring them to the

Mishkan and making them peace offerings? Ramban says these verses are discussing "meat of

desire". He cites Rashi that during the forty years in the desert, Israel was not permitted to eat

meat. Rav Soloveitchik goes on that any killing of animals was prohibited other than the sacrifices,

which were only allowed at the entrance to the Mishkan.

Once Israel reached the land of Canaan, they would again be permitted to eat meat. Our verses

give some restrictions. Before the migration of Yaakov and his family to Egypt, they slaughtered

meat to eat while in the field. From the reentry into Canaan onward, they would only be permitted

to slaughter meat for eating when at the Mishkan if they make it a peace offering. Rambam and

others write that this shows that sacrifices in Judaism are meant to divert attention away from

idolatrous ways, and dedicate the people to God. Verse 18:3 seems to support this, emphasizing

that we are not to follow the practices of the Egyptians nor the Canaanites. This is also the source

that many cite to say that there will not be sacrifices (with a couple exceptions) in the days of the

Third Temple, but that is not a unanimous holding.

The purpose of these commandments is to raise the spiritual level of actions the people take, to

give a holy purpose, to remind them of the mastery of God.