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</style> </div><h1><span style="font-size: small;"></span></h1><h1><span style="font-size: small;"></span></h1><h1><span style="font-size: small;"></span></h1><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</style> <span style="font-size: small;"> This week we begin the third book of the Torah, <i>Vayikra</i>/Leviticus with the reading of <i>parshat Vayikra</i> (each book of the Torah and the first parasha/portion of that book always bear the same name).</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p><i> Vayikra</i> means “and he (God) called.” It is easy for us to hear the call of the Divine when reading about the journeys of the patriarchs and matriarchs or the ordeals of the slaves and their exodus from Egypt. But to hear God’s call in the description of sacrifices is not an easy task! And yet <i>Vayikra</i> is about more than just sacrifices and laws. At the core of Vayikra is the sacrificial system that is meant to connect the people with the Divine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">In the first third of this <i>parashah</i>, which is what is read in many congregations this <i>Shabbat</i>, we read first of the <i>Olah</i>, the burnt offering, or literally “that which rises up.” These were sacrifices in which the entire animal, after being ritually slaughtered was burned on the altar. This differed from other sacrifices where part of the animal was saved as a sacred meal for the priests and the worshipers. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p> Most communal sacrifices were <i>olot</i> – burnt offerings. The community would give the priests beasts and birds that belonged to them and watch them as they were sacrificed to God on the altar, watching the smoke rise up to God with a <i>reyakh nee’khoah</i> – pleasant odor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p> The <i>minchah, </i>or grain offering then followed the<i> olot</i>. Here, grain was mixed with oil and spices and presented either in a cooked or uncooked form to the priest. It was then burnt on the altar. However, the text makes clear that no leaven and no honey may be used in the <i>minchah</i> offering. We do not know if this is in any way connected with the later rabbinic association of leaven with pride, hubris, and ego, but this is certainly a connection that I possible interpretation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The following poem is broken up into seven portions. Each portion corresponds to one of the seven aliyot (individual Torah readings) read this Shabbat according to the breakdown of the Conservative movement in the USA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Shabbat Shalom,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Steven</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hearing the Divine Call<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Aliyah 1<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I hear God’s call </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">bring </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">my sacrifice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">my self</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">perfect unblemished</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">but</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I am not</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> perfect</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I am filled with blemishes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> imperfections</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> faults</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> sin</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">still</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I must</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">find</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">within </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">perfection</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Godliness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">holiness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">from that </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">place</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">iImust sacrifice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">offer</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">give</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">to God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h2><span style="font-size: small;">aliyah 2</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">my offering</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">goes up in flames</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">before my eyes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">am consumed</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">my soul</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> aflame</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">the smoke</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my soul</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> our soul</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">the soul</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">rises </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">returns </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">to it’s source</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">the scent of teshuvah </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">is in the air</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">pleasing God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">the divine smile</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> radiates</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">into my heart</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h2><span style="font-size: small;">aliyah 3</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">more sacrifice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">more violence</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">blood</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">destruction</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">the smells</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> the sounds</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">cacophony</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to run</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">how could God desire</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">such sacrifice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">how could God not</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">true sacrifice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">is not easy simple pretty</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">true sacrifice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">of the self</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">before God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">is difficult painful</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">yet necessary</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to run</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">from the pain</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">from the noise</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">to somewhere pleasant </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> somewhere safe</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> somewhere simple</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">if only it really existed</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> or</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">thank God it does not</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h2><span style="font-size: small;">aliyah 4</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">sacrifice continues</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> I do not run </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I do not hide</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my eyes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my heart </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my soul</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">from what is </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">real</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">the priest</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> conduit between us and God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">takes our offerings</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> and kills them</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">my flocks</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my birds</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my possessions</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">are no more</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">were they ever</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">real</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">really mine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">no</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">they were Gods</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">as they still are</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">still</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">each time </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> i see</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">one rise in smoke to God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> i feel</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">a piece of my self</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> die with it</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> and rise</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> back to God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">in my heart </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I hear God saying</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">welcome home</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h2><span style="font-size: small;">aliyah 5</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">no more death</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">of animals</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> of the self</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">it is finished</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I have given all I can to God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> for now</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">then suddenly I smell</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> something sweet</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> something pleasant</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">mingled with the acrid smell</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> of sacrifice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">like fresh bread baking</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> the smell of home</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> or hearth</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> of safety </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">of security</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">this is something i can live with</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> I can enjoy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I hope</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">it will never</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">end</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h2><span style="font-size: small;">aliyah 6</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">that wondrous smell</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">tempting me</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">hunger desire arising</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> within me</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I am ready to eat</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> to devour</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> the bread</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> staff of life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">source of my sustainance</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">but wait</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">the smell is changing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">from sweet to acrid</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">pleasant to noxious</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">soothing to burning</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">the bread is burning</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">turned to smoke</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">on the altar</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">why</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I wanted it</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">we all did</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">but of course</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">it is not</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">for us</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">it is</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">for God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I am in pain</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">my desire unfulfilled</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I mourn the loss</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">of something </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> I never had</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> that was never mine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">then i remember</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">this </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">is what</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">it’s all about</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">gain and loss</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">pain and pleasure</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">criticism and praise</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">recognition and invisibility</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">all illusions</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> never real</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> never mine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">like the bread</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">they are here</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> bringing joy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> that is not real joy </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">they are gone</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> bringing pain</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> that feels all too real</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">what is real</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">what is here</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">always</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">is simply </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h2><span style="font-size: small;">aliyah 7</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">and so I offer to God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my meal </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my grain</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my source</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my soul</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I do not bring</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> leavened bread</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> ego</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> self</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> selfishness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> pride</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">for it is no more</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> if it ever was</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I do not bring</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> merely</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> the sweetness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> that hides the pain </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> that is real</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> like honey masks</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> the bitterness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> we are meant to taste</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I simply bring </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> what is real</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> all that i am</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> no judgements</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> no facades</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> no illusions</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">just all that I am</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> that is part of you</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> part of God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> part of the world</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">a particle of the smoke</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> rising from the altar</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">of life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> returning to the source</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">of life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I hear the call </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> the my heart</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">I see the smoke rise to God</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> my soul rejoices</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">and together</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> we all</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">sing praise </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">to</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> the </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">One </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">halleluyah</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<br><br>--<br>
Posted By Rabbi Steven Nathan to <a href="http://mindfultorah.blogspot.com/2010/03/poetic-commentary-on-parshat-vayikra.html">Mindful Torah</a> at 3/19/2010 03:06:00 PM