Parashas Vayikra - 247 Mitzvos in only One Sefer!

This week's Dvar Torah has been sponsored for:
Aliyah Neshama: Rachamim ben Adina
May your soul be spiritually uplifted and judged with mercy.
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We begin a new volume in Chumash this week called Sefer Vayikra. The Rambam says there are 247 (out of 613) mitzvos (commandments) found in this volume. There is a custom among schools for younger children to start learning Chumash with this volume. People always ask the classic question: “Wouldn’t it make more sense to start with Bereshis? That is when everything was created! Besides, starting kids off learning about korbanos (sacrifices) is too hard for them to grasp!”

This is true. Sacrifices are hard to comprehend at a young age. However, as we mentioned above, this volume in Chumash is a very essential part of Judaism. It has a lot of basic laws (important for young kids to learn) such as: Love others as you love yourself, don’t speak bad of other people (gossip), don’t avenge or bear a grudge, etc... (That was only four out of hundreds!)

[Another answer is brought by the Midrash: Sefer Vayikra is filled with laws pertaining Kohanim (Priests) and their obligation to serve Hashem in a status of purity and holiness. Therefore, it seems fit for children to learn Vayikra first, since they are young and pure. (Some people have a hard time understanding this Midrash.)]

Focusing on the first answer given, there's more to Torah than just learning it - one also needs to have proper character traits. The Torah goes to great lengths to teach us different ways we can become better people, whether saying it straight out or not. An example can be found by the parasha of korbanos.

“He shall bring me an offering… If his hands can’t get hold of a sheep, he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons…If his hands can’t get hold of two turtledoves or young pigeons, he shall bring fine flour…” [1] The Evan Ezra explains: “If his hands can’t get hold of…” means “One who doesn’t have it in his possessions...” meaning: a poor person. [2]

We can see from these pesukim that Hashem is sensitive to those who can’t afford to give an offering to Him. He therefore says everyone can give according to his or her own financial abilities. Hashem values a poor man’s gift of flour as much as if he offered his life. Hashem proclaims, “The flour he gave Me could have been the only flour he had left in his house, using it to sustain his family; instead he offered it to Me. His offering is considered as precious to Me as if he had sacrificed his very life. [3]

We were created beh’tzelem Elokim (in the image of Hashem) and we are supposed to emulate Him. All these laws the Torah gives us are for us to use and practice. They are supposed to make us into better people. It’s hard to get out of a bad habit if we’ve lived with it for a long time. Some people can’t stop telling lies, where others can't stop stealing. I personally know someone who cannot stop talking bad about others. It’s sad, but it’s a “habit” they’ve had since they were little.

The younger you train your kids to be kind and considerate, the easier it is when they become older. They wouldn’t have to be reminded of what to say or what “not” to say. A child’s “hero” or “role-model” is their mom or dad. They try emulating “mommy” or “daddy” in many aspects. It is up to us to teach our kids what is wrong and what is right. A lot has to do with what they pick up at home.

A lesson I learned from this week’s Parasha: It is important to be a good role-model, whether for our kids, or other people who look up to us. Our kids, for example, are always going to try to emulate us. The best thing we can do is emulate our Father in Heaven, Hashem. An example (among thousands), is the sensitivity we should have towards others. It is a very important character trait. By being sensitive, we can refrain for many sins like: Damaging people’s property or making someone feel bad through hurtful words, etc… Sensitivity should come naturally to a Jew. It is up to us to “train” our young-ones at an early age, and I think there is no better place to start than Sefer Vayikra.


Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso


[1] Vayikra 5:6-12
[2] Vayikra 5:7
[3] Midrash HaGadol 2:1