This week we begin the book of Vayikra, with the details of the various sacrifices mandated by the Torah. Whether in expiation for sin or in thanksgiving, for festivals or as fulfilment of a vow; sacrifices are the main form of regular worship found in the Torah. A sacrifice, however, involves the killing of an animal. We worship G-d by taking sentient life. What is the reason for this form of worship? Various explanations are given. Maimonidies explains that this was the universal form of worship throughout the ancient world. In order to wean the Jews from idolatry, the Torah allowed them also to worship in this way, but only to G-d. Others explain that seeing the dead animal before them, the worshippers would realise that it is them that are worthy of death for their sins or that just as the animal’s life is in their hands, their life is in G-d’s. It is this last idea I would like to explore more closely. By commanding us to sacrifice animals, and indeed allowing us to eat meat, G-d has transferred part of His power over life and death into our hands. It is not only G-d who decides who will live and who will die, but humans now have some of the same power. We too can experience the responsibility of having another sentient being’s life in our hands and having to decide on its ultimate fate. What is the purpose of G-d giving us this power? Is it merely another manifestation of our being created in His image, or is there a deeper reason? In life we encounter many vicissitudes. Loved ones may be suddenly taken from us, we may lose money, possessions and even our health. Looking around, these travails often seem random, unfair and even cruel. We may question the methods, justice and even existence of G-d. We may feel that G-d has abandoned the world to the dictates of blind chance, and nothing we do makes a difference. G-d therefore puts us in His position. He enables us, too, to be the arbiters of life and death. In doing so, He hopefully teaches us how difficult it is. Any child that had to kill their favourite lamb or calf for festive meal or sacrifice, would learn how what a hard thing it was to decide ‘who will live, and who will die’. They would learn that G-d is not cruel or capricious; simply making difficult decisions.

Parshat Vayikra