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The first קרבן that God details to Moshe is the עולה. If one brings this קרבן from cattle, the animal must be a male without any blemish. It is brought to the entrance of אוהל מועד, where one declares his intention to bring the animal as a קרבן.
Contrary to common belief, the names given to each of the קרבנות reflect the purpose of the particular קרבן, not the method or procedure involved in offering it to God. Many commentators erroneously suggest that the עולה קרבן is so called because it is a burnt offering which is consumed completely. However, the name should be understood following the principle of "purpose, not procedure".
The word עולה is from the root ע-ל-ה "to rise up." The קרבן is the mechanism by which a person can elevate himself.
How then can we explain the word עולה? The answer lies in the Torah’s use of directional terms. Hebrew words indicating direction express more than motion, they describe physical and ethical development. Examples of motion plus: שאול (downward) implies death, descent into the grave and deterioration, אושר (forward) denotes progress, עליה (upward) means spirituality and closeness to God.
A person who brings a קרבן עולה seeks to prevent repetition of past mistakes by reaching upward to that moral perfection that is God.
The word שאול is from the root ש-א-ל "to demand," usually relating to something to be returned. The root is also used to designate a grave that "demands the return of a lifeless body." The word אושר is from the root א-ש-ר "to progress."
The קרבן עולה must be a living animal or fowl. It must be complete, without blemish (תמים), and must be a male (זכר).
Each of these specific requirements has a symbolic meaning. The animal needs to be male and unblemished to represent the power and completeness that is necessary when turning to God and becoming close to Him.
The word תמים is from the root ת-מ-ם "to be complete" requiring nothing more. The word זכר is from the root ז-כ-ר "to remember." The male member of the family is the bearer of tradition.
Furthermore, the specific animal that is chosen reflects the character of the individual bringing it. In this verse, the Torah mentions cattle, an animal that performs difficult physical toil. In subsequent verses, the Torah mentions the sheep, an animal that requires care and herding. Together, cattle and sheep represent the labors and the condition of man.
When a person seeks to improve himself, to reach upward to God, he must evaluate which area of his life needs improvement. If he feels that he has been remiss in performing work that was expected of him, he will bring cattle as his קרבן. If, on the other hand, he feels that his shortcomings relate to God, his Shepherd, he will bring a sheep.
The קרבן עולה, then, is the reflection of both the current status of a person and his future relationship with God.
Copyright © 2014, Matityahu Clark. All Rights Reserved. This is an excerpt from the forthcoming Hirsch At Your Table, a collection of brief divrei torah based on R. Samson Raphael Hirsch’s Torah Commentary.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
