In this week’s Torah portion, Pinchos, we are told of the command to bring a daily offering; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The Torah tells us[1] that “the one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer in the afternoon.” Rashi cites the words from the verse “the one lamb,” and explains that “Even though this is already stated in the portion of Ve’Atoh Tetzaveh[2], “This is what you shall offer (on the altar…The one lamb you shall offer up in the morning),” that was an instruction for the days of the dedication (of the Kohanim), but here He commanded it for all generations.” In other words, earlier the Torah taught us to bring this daily offering at one particular time in history. In our Parshah, the Torah is teaching us that it must always be brought, throughout all generations[3].
Everything in Torah has a deeper meaning. What is the significance of offering a sacrifice every day? The Hebrew word for sacrifice is “Korbon – קרבן,” which is derived from the Hebrew word “Karov – קרוב” which means near. The connection is obvious; through offering sacrifices we draw ourselves nearer to Hashem[4].
The reason that one sacrifice must be brought in the morning is because each and every Jew must begin his day by drawing himself closer to G-d, i.e. serving Hashem. This will have a positive influence on the Jew throughout the entire day.
Together with the offering, the blood and the fat of the animal were offered upon the Mizbe’ach (altar). This means that each of us must begin the day with a firm resolution. We must firmly resolve to dedicate all of our excitement (blood) to the altar, i.e. holy matters. That must be our sole excitement and pleasure (fat). In this manner we will certainly bring the complete and true redemption now. We will then have the third Bais Hamikdosh; we will then once again bring sacrifices in the simple sense.
Wishing one and all a good Shabbos! May we merit the time of the complete and true redemption which will begin an!
Rabbi Shmuel Mendelsohn
Adapted from Likkutei Sichos Volume 3, Page 941
IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR FATHER
Mr. Sholom Moshe Hacohen
ben Reb Shlomo Meir Hacohen ע”ה Cohen
Passed away Shabbos Parshas Beshalach, 13 Shevat, 5779
May His Soul be bound in the Eternal Bond of Life
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DEDICATED BY HIS FAMILY
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לעילוי נשמת
ר’ שלום משה הכהן בן ר’ שלמה מאיר הכהן ע”ה כהן
נפטר ש”ק פ’ בשלח, י”ג שבט, ה’תשע”ט
ת. נ. צ. ב. ה.
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יו”ל ע”י בני משפחתו שיחיו
[1]. Our Parshah, Bamidbar 28:4.
[2]. Parshas Tetzaveh, Shemos 39:28-29.
[3]. We may not offer sacrifices at present, because we have no Bais Hamikdosh (until the coming of Moshiach, may he come now). Nevertheless, the Sages instituted our morning and afternoon prayers in place of these sacrifices.
[4]. This is explained at length in the Rebbe’s Maamor Basi Legani 5712. This can be found in Sefer Hamaamorim Melukat, Volume 2, Page 276.
The Rebbe Teaches Rashi 