Shabbat Shalom

BS"D

Parshas Vayikra by Rabbi Shalom Goldberg
The Rebbe[1] says:

1. This week's Torah portion begins a new Chumash (book) in the Torah (the Five Books of Moses) named Vayikra (Leviticus). Chumash Vayikra mainly deals with the sacrifices that the Jewish people brought to Hashem in the Holy Temple and it details the work of the Kohanim (the priests).

2. In the beginning of this week's Torah portion Hashem (G-d) called to Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher) and told him, "Adam Ki Yakriv Mikem Korban Lashem, Min Habihayma, Min Habokor, Oo'min hatzon… - When a man will bring an offering from (among) you as a sacrifice to Hashem, from the cattle, from the herd or from the flock…"[2].

3. The Rebbe now asks a question which is also asked by the previous Chabad Rebbe'im (leaders):

If this verse is to be taken plainly, that a man from among the nation of Israel would be bringing an animal as a sacrifice to Hashem, the Torah surely uses a very poor choice of grammatical organization. Instead of writing, "When a man will bring an offering from among you", the Torah should have written, "When a man from among you will bring an offering".

In light of the above, and knowing that the Torah's choice of wording is exact, we must say that the Torah's wants to teach us something deeper here; let us try and understand what that is.

4. The Rebbe now quotes and explains the answer which the Alter Rebbe, the first Chabad Rebbe[3], gave:

As we have pointed out many times, when Hashem promised to rest in the Tabernacle He said, "Make for Me a Temple and I will rest in them" [4]. Our Sages explain that Hashem said, "in them", in the plural sense, because He was explaining to us that every single Jew is just like His Temple in that if they act according to His will He will rest in them. From this it's understood that every service which was done in the Holy Temple must also be practiced by each individual Jew who is a "miniature" Temple, including the Korbonos (sacrifices) discussed in this week's Torah portion.

The Rebbe now goes on to explain how the Torah's discussion of the Korbonos in this week's Torah portion teaches us a lesson in the service of Hashem:

The word, "Yakriv", which is simply translated as, "to bring an offering", also means "to come close" (from the word "Kiruv"). This being the case, we can read the verse in a different way; "Adam Ki Yakriv – When a man will want to come close to Hashem".

The verse then continues and says, "Mikem Korban Lashem – from you must this offering come". With this the Torah teaches us that if we want to come close to Hashem we must first sacrifice our key desires.

The Torah then continues and enumerates different animalistic natures, "Min Habihayma, Min Habokor, Oo'min hatzon - from the cattle, from the herd or from the flock". In other words, every person's evil inclination fights with him differently, every persons "animal" is of a different nature, and we must fight it on all fronts and give up from our "self" to come close to Hashem.

Translated and adapted by Rabbi Shalom Goldberg. Taken from Likutei Sichos volume one, first Sicha.

[1] "The Rebbe" always refers to the Chabad Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known as The Rebbe, is the seventh and last Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He has greatly expanded its worldwide activities and has founded a network of institutions, in more than 70 countries, to spread Judaism, with the stated goal of "loving your fellow as yourself" and publicizing the news that Moshiach (the Messiah) is here. For information about him please visit www.chabad.org/therebbe/default_cdo/jewish/The-Rebbe.htm .
[2] See Leviticus, Chapter 1, Verse 2.
[3] Shneur Zalman of Liadi (September 4, 1745 – December 15, 1812) was the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Chasidic Judaism, then based in Liadi, Imperial Russia. He was the author of many works, and is best known for Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Tanya and his Siddur Torah Or compiled according to the Nusach Ari.
[4] See Exodus, Chapter 25, Verse 8.