Thought of the Week: Kedoshim - 5774

CHARITY OVER SACRIFICE

In the fifth verse of Pareshat Kedoshim, the Torah notes that when a person brings an offering to the Beit Hamikdash, he should be sure that it is done “Lirtzonchem”-for your acceptance. The Rabbis in the Talmud derive from this word that it is vital to have intention when performing the sacrificial service.

A few verses down the text describes several gifts to the poor that are left in the field unintentionally. Despite the fact that the owner has no idea that he is sustaining the needy, it is considered a great Mitzvah.

What we are being told is that when we perform Mitzvot that are decrees that transcend rational reason, like the Korbanot, it is essential to be mindful of the “Commander” since we relate to them as actions that have only extrinsic value. Mindless irrational deeds are the core of paganism and its rituals, activities that the Torah warns us time and again to avoid.

Rational Mitzvot on the other hand have worth even when done inadvertently. If the poor person benefited from my field, good has been done.

With this in mind we can understand what Shlomo Hamelech observes in Proverbs 21:3 that “To do charity is more desirable to Hashem than sacrifice.”

Shabbat Shalom