Parshat Vayikra: The Weekly Parsha Story Illustrated by AI

hello children today we are starting a new book the book of vayikra this book is also called the Torah of the kohanim because it deals with many Commandments related to the Holy Temple and the service of the priests God teaches Moshe about the sacrifices that the Jewish people need to offer in the Tabernacle why do we offer sacrifices how does it work and what kinds of sacrifices are there let's go on a fascinating journey and I'll tell you all the details on the first of the month of Nissan the mishan was erected and at that moment fire came down from the heavens and consumed the sacrifices Moshe was supposed to enter the sanctuary but he waited outside until God would call him suddenly he heard the voice of God it was a powerful voice that only Moshe could hear Moshe entered through the sanctuary until he reached the holy of holies and stood between the ark and the Kim at that point Hashem began to teach Moshe everything about the sacrifices and so it continued for a full month until he had taught him the entire book of vayikra the word Corban sacrifice is similar to the word karov close sacrifices are a way to draw closer to God sacrifices can be brought as a gift and also to give thanks for a miracle that occurred and sometimes to atone for a mistake we made when the Jewish people offer a sacrifice there is great joy in heaven and at that time God bestows abundance upon the entire Jewish Nation sacrifices are only permitted to be offered in the Holy Temple and not outside of it let's return to the moving encounter between God and Moshe the first thing that Hashem taught Moshe was the burnt offering the Corban Ola the burnt offering is a very special sacrifice because it is entirely burned on the Altar and nothing of it remains anyone who wants to express great love for God and draw closer to him brings a burnt offering one can offer a bull a sheep a goat or even a bird the sacrifice must be without blemish meaning a healthy and complete animal and it's important to make sure the offering is not stolen because Hashem does not like theft God wants us to bring him the very best because the sacrifices are a special gift in his honor for the person bringing the offering it is a festive day he dresses in festive clothing comes with the animal to the Courtyard of the mishan where he places both hands on the animal's head and Praises Hashem this is called smiha laying of hands after the offering a spectacular sight takes place as soon as the priests light the fire on the altar a mighty fire descends from the heavens and consumes the offering Hashem explained to Moshe that whoever wishes to offer from the flock rather than from cattle it is important that they bring animals with gentle qualities such as a lamb or a goat which are especially gentle in nature and if a person does not have enough money for that they may bring a turtle do or a young pigeon which are less expensive and also very gentle and if they cannot even afford to bring a bird there is another solution not everyone can afford to bring cattle or flock as a sacrifice and therefore there is an option to bring a simpler offering a grain offering this is a sacrifice made of flour oil and frankincense the grain offering symbolizes a person's efforts and what they are willing to give to God even if they don't have much I'll tell you something that not many people know God told Moshe that every offering brought to the altar whether cattle flock or bird must have salt added to it by the kohanim what's so special about salt on the second day of creation the entire world was water as we know salt comes from water God split the waters and with his word gathered half of the waters into the heavens and half on the earth the waters on Earth were saddened that they were far from God while the other half were closer God said to them because you desire to be close to me when sacrifices are offered in the Holy Temple they will be offered only with salt that is why the Jewish people are careful to always have salt on the table when God finished explaining to Moshe about the burnt offering the Ola he went on to explain the peace offering the shalim which comes comes from the word Shalom peace it is a very festive and joyful offering part of it is burned on the altar part is given to the kohanim and the rest is eaten by the person who brought the offering together with his family and friends this offering expresses joy and gratitude to Hashem for all the kindness he does for us there are other offerings that are brought for sins a person has committed one of them is the sin offering the hatat what happens if a person sins by mistake for that purpose there is the sin offering this is an offering brought to ask for forgiveness and to correct the mistake Hashem knows that we are human beings and sometimes we make mistakes and therefore he gave us a way to correct and purify ourselves the person who sinned brings an offering places his hands on it and confesses please God I have sinned I have transgressed and I have rebelled he specifies the sin he committed and then the animal is sacrificed there is another type of offering that a person must bring if he committed one of three types of transgressions this is called a variable offering the Corban o veor red it is brought by someone who swore and did not fulfill the oath someone who swore falsely or someone who entered the Holy Temple while imp pure such a person will need to bring a variable offering it is called this because the type of offering depends on the financial means of the individual if he is wealthy he brings from the more expensive offerings and if he is poor he brings from the Lesser ones the final offering mentioned is the guilt offering the Corbin asham it is brought for specific transgressions such as if someone someone mistakenly uses items that belong to God or a thief this offering helps a person correct their actions and make amends and to return what was taken unjustly since the destruction of the Holy Temple we no longer have the ability to bring offerings when we pray it is as if we are offering a sacrifice before God that's why it's important to pray with intention and love and to ask God to draw us closer to him what other types of offerings are there and what happens after they are brought will tell you all about that in the next episode