Weekly Parasha Newsletter
Parashat Vayikra
by Rabbi Yaakov Haber
Parashat Vayikra describes the order of the korbanot and the various sacrifices offered on the altar during the time of the Bet Hamikdash. The Parasha begins with the laws of the korban nedava, the gift-offering.
Here, the Torah enumerates three different levels. Ideally, a person should bring a cow as his sacrifice. If he does not have the means to do so, he should bring a bird. If he cannot afford even that, he brings a flour-offering.
We do not have the Bet Hamikdash today, we therefore do not bring any of these sacrifices. Nevertheless, there is something we can learn from these laws.
One of the well-known lessons often derived from our Parasha is the fact that a person is not obligated to go beyond his means. If he can only afford a flour-offering, he need only bring its inexpensive ingredients, and it will be regarded as if he had brought the same sacrifice as his wealthier counterpart who brought an ox.
However, notes the Hafetz Haim, there is another important lesson we can learn.
When we asses our own level of mitzvah observance, we often do so by comparing ourselves to others. We know, perhaps, that we have the ability to learn more, pray better or give more generously. We also know that some of the people around us do not have that same ability. Even when utilizing the full extent of their means, they are not capable of achieving what we can.
But we take comfort in the fact that we are up to par with them. We are doing everything they are doing, so we feel we can rest assured that we do not need to do more.
Our Parasha teaches us that this perspective is a mistake. Just as the needy person is not obligated to bring an ox as his korban, the man of means cannot bring a flour offering. What suffices for someone else does not always satisfy our obligation.
If we can do more than our friend can, then we must. If we have more than he has, then we must give more than he does. We cannot assume that the poor man’s sacrifice will work for us. We must assess our own abilities and live our lives accordingly.