B'yachad

Vayikra-Leviticus–ויקרא

A text study to engage as a family

The Book of Leviticus interrupts the narrative flow which begins in Genesis and continues in Exodus, resuming in the Book of Numbers. While the Book of Exodus explains the construction of the Sacred Space, the priestly clothing and the sacrificial utensils, it is in Leviticus that these items are put into practice. Thus, this book deals primarily in the creation of the Israelite people and the sacrificial cult.

This Torah Portion speaks of the five different kinds of sacrifices to be offered by the people and their leaders, but it also identifies the reasons for offering sacrifices. Many were presented as gifts to bring the community closer to God and to express thanks for harvests, holidays, personal celebrations, good fortune, healing in time of sickness, hope in the time of fear and achievement of personal relations between individuals and nations.

Among the many different kinds of sacrifices are those having to do with the “sins” of the people of Israel or of individuals. The Torah Portion speaks of the olah offering and the chatat and asham sacrifices as means of achieving relief from guilty feelings and forgiveness from God for wrong doing. In identifying forms of behavior that require offerings, the Torah and those who interpret it present us with a definition of “sin.”

Discussion Questions about Sin.

1. Can sinful thoughts lead to sinful deeds.

2. Should a person feel guilty about sinful thoughts if it doesn’t lead to sinful deeds.

3. Can prayer or something else lead a person away from sin.

4. Who is responsible in society for sin.

5. What is the role of the individual, the leadership in the community or the entity of the community.