1316: Vayikra 5th nissan 5770 20/03/2010

Listen to the enlightened man: What are you waiting for? What do you expect? Who needs sacrifices? What are you, pagans? Sacrifices were suitable for primitive ancient generations. The true link to the almighty is spiritual, through the soul. That is the only meaningful link: prayer, solitude, spiritual elevation. That is what is real. Leave animal sacrifices to dark and primitive people.
 
 
Listen to the enlightened man: What are you waiting for? What do you expect? Who needs a hug? Who needs a kiss? Intimate contact between a man and a woman was suitable for primitive ancient generations. The true link to a woman is spiritual, through the soul. That is the only meaningful link: Talk through the soul, romantic solitude, sharing feelings. That is what is real. Leave animal behavior to dark and primitive people.

 
Our Torah does not believe in platonic love. Our Torah does not believe in love that is only spiritual. It is true that love between a man and a woman must begin with spiritual contact, with falling in love. But it must then continue to a physical relationship. Spiritual love without any action is not sufficient. One of the most basic obligations of a husband to his wife is to maintain proper sexual relations. A bond cannot be formed between a man and a woman without a physical element. Spirituality is not enough. The link must be anchored in the world of actions.

 
Sacrifices are an anchor that establishes the link between the Almighty and human beings. Sacrifices are a practical expression of the spiritual link between us and G-d. If the Temple would only be a place for spiritual uplifting we would have to fill it with elements that raise the soul up to high summits and peaks. If our main involvement would be with the soul, we would have to remove the sacrifices from the Temple. The odor of flesh and blood that fills the nostrils of a visitor to the Temple is not necessarily something that encourages spiritual achievements.
 
Of course there was a high degree of spirituality in the Temple. Of course it is true that in the holy Temple the soul was raised to great heights. But this spiritual uplifting was accompanied by a practical uplifting. This was a true close approach to G-d, an approach that combined both the soul and physical action. Spirit without flesh cannot be maintained for very long. Flesh without a spirit will become spoiled. In the Temple, spirit and flesh existed together.

 
The comparison between the love of a man for a woman and the love of a human being for the Almighty is founded in holy elements. Hoshaya promised, "I will betroth you to Me with faithfulness" [2:22]. Yirmiyahu cried out, "I remember the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you followed Me in the desert" [2:2]. But there is still an important and significant difference between the two types of love.
 
The Almighty has no need for our sacrifices. "Why do I need your many sacrifices? ... I am satiated with Olah sacrifices of rams... I have no desire for the blood of bulls, sheep, and goats." [Yeshayahu 1:11]. As opposed to human companions, the Almighty does not feed on the results of the sacrifices but only on the actions themselves.
 
This can be compared to a father who is very happy when his young son offers him to share a snack from a bag that the father just gave him. The father is overjoyed to see that the child gives up some of his own snack. The act of giving the snack is what makes the father happy, not the taste of the snack.
 
The Almighty does not need our sacrifices, but when we offer to Him part of the snacks which He gave us we feel more closely aligned with Him – and He becomes more closely linked to us.