Thursday, April 30, 2009

Divine Service Or Stomach Service ?

BS"D

 The Torah [Vayikra 17:1-7] teaches us the prohibition of outside slaughter, bringing a sacrifice to Hashem outside of the delineated boundaries of the Mishkan. If someone were to violate this law the Torah ascribes to him an unusual appellation; murderer.

I can understand that one who transgresses a law should be considered guilty or even wicked. But how does a misplaced sacrifice make him a murderer ?! 

If we are to worship G-d, then the operative part of the relationship is our subservience to Him. That's what worship is all about. If we want to serve G-d, but on our own terms, that is unacceptable.

I remember hearing a story ( first hand ) from a Rav who came upon the hired cantor, whom he was hosting for Yom Kippur, drinking a hot cup of coffee in preparation for the 'service'. "It's for the throat," he excused himself sheepishly. Needless to say, the cantor did not lead the congregation that day.

But why a murderer ?

Someone that serves G-d on his own terms is really serving himself. If he will take the life of an animal as part of his worship scheme – what's to stop him from taking the life of a man when he believes that G-d 'calls' for it ?

Chazal also compare embarrassing someone to killing him. When we see our friend doing something inappropriate – how do we tell him ? Is our intention to shame him ? Or do we really seek to help him see and correct his mistake ?

This is contingent on the same question – if it is about me – I may want to "one-up" my friend – if it is about G-d – then my competitive feelings are totally out of place.

Let's take the lesson of the improper slaughterings and apply it, not only to our relationship with our creator – but also with our fellow creations.

Hatzlacha !!

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