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But was Pesach Mitzrayim really a korban? Was blood sprinkled on an altar?! Were specific parts of the animal (eimurin) offered to Hashem?! On the other hand, the mishna (Pesachim 9:3) lists a relatively short number of differences between Pesach Mitzrayim and Korban Pesach for all generations, which certainly gives the impression that, at least at their core, they are both korbanot. The Torah itself, after discussing Pesach Mitzrayim, declares that Bnei Yisrael will do this service for all generations (ibid. 25).
A fascinating gemara (Pesachim 96a) gives us cause to realize that Pesach Mitzrayim was more of a korban than one might think. The gemara asks about the apparent fact that no blood was sprinkled on an altar in Pesach Mitzrayim and says that its blood was actually placed on three "altars," the lintel and the two doorposts of the individual Jews’ houses. (The gemara addresses the eimurin as well, but there is a machloket whether it means to say that there were no eimurin or whether the proper parts were burnt "for Hashem," albeit not on an altar.)
How could the blood on the doorposts be considered like putting blood on the altar of Hashem’s Temple? Doesn’t the Torah say clearly that the blood was for Hashem to "see" and pass over the appropriate houses, sparing their firstborn (ibid. 23)? What does that have to do with service of Hashem?!
One answer is that we, as apparent from our questions, are looking at things in the wrong order. The doorposts were chosen as altars, and thus the blood was put there as part of a korban procedure. Then the fact that Hashem saw the people’s service protected them.
Another possibility refocuses our outlook on service of Hashem, in general. Does the blood on "Hashem’s altar" help Him? No, it helps us, protects us, and brings us success in a variety of ways. Usually, we have to work on reminding ourselves of this point, which some do more effectively than others. However, in this first set of commandments given to the Jewish people as a nation, Hashem left no room for doubt. He expressed that He wanted to save all the Jewish homes, and so He appointed each home to consist of "altars" in its entrance. Hashem then taught that by following the steps of sacrifice (which albeit were unique regarding the Korban Pesach), they would be protecting themselves, in a very clear way, on that night. During the course of history, it is our responsibility to find Hashem’s protection in more subtle ways.
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
