Parashat Vayikra--Hearts Tied Together

This week, we begin reading Leviticus, the third book of the Torah.  In the book’s first portion, Parashat  Vayikra, we are introduced to the organized sacrificial system of the ancient Israelites.  It is true that we today are far removed from the blood and guts of Leviticus in our daily lives, and it is also true that we are deeply connected to many of Leviticus’ thoughts about community.

The sacrificial system was predicated on an almost unbelievable premise:  There was only one sanctioned place in the world at which Israelites were allowed to offer sacrifices to God.  These sacrifices represent our ancestors’ primary form of worship, and so it is significant that in their entire known world they were only able to commune with God in one place:  The Temple.  The ancient Temple, which stood in Jerusalem, functioned as the center of Israelite life in the ancient world.  (And while we know today that there were quite a few renegade sacrifice sites in existence, the intent of Leviticus is clear:  In order to form a religious community, the people had to gather together together!).

In fact, the nineteenth century’s Rabbi Shmuel David Luzzatto (or Shadal) teaches that the main purpose of the sacrificial system was to build community.  He writes:

The Torah commands that each person should not build his own place for sacrifice, but rather that everyone should offer sacrifices in one singular place.  The purpose of this is not to belittle the act of sacrificing, but rather, it is for the good of the nation, for success, and in order to perfect our [communal] values.  Since there was only one Temple for the whole nation, everyone would gather to one place and, as a result, their hearts would be tied together in fellowship and they would be always as one group.

Shadal paints a beautiful image of community in his teaching.  His words allow us to understand the sacrificial system not as something that separates us from our ancestors, but rather as something that connects us.

We all are in search of meaning and community.  We too are looking to have our hearts “tied together in fellowship” with others.  As our world grows even bigger, this need starts even deeper.

For our ancestors, community was built into the system.  Do you want to worship God?  Go to the Temple!  Do you want to interact with other Israelites?  Go to the Temple.  With no options, the community was built and sustained.

Today, our choices are more varied.  Community is certainly not a given.  We have to choose our temple.  And then we have to choose to walk in its doors.  And then we have to choose to be active members of its community.  And, only with our work, do we come to find our hearts tied in fellowship.

This week, we are reminded by a nineteenth century rabbi that our efforts to build and connect are worthwhile.  Beyond even our own needs, we were intended to be “as one group.”  When we gather for learning and prayer, or for connecting and celebrating, we live out our ancestors’ legacy.  We take our place in the ever extending line of the Jewish people.  Shadal teaches this is our purpose.  It may also be our deliverance.