Bat Kol International, Weekly Torah Nuggets
Parashat Tzav. Leviticus 6:1-8:36
The LORD This is the ritual of the sacrifice of well-being that anyone may offer to GOD: One who offers it for thanksgiving shall offer, together with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes with oil mixed in—unleavened wafers spread with oil—and cakes of choice flour with oil mixed in, well soaked. (Lev 7:11-12)
This week’s parasha continues with the description of a variety of offerings and sacrifices which had to be prepared and offered up at the temple. Among these many offerings, Leviticus 7:11-17 speaks about the thanksgiving-offering, the korban todah. This offering was presented in gratitude after having recovered from illness or after a dangerous journey.
The rabbis teach that in the world to come or after the coming of Messiah respectively there will be no further need for sacrifices and offerings. They will all end in the Messianic times. However, the thanksgiving-offering will last forever. So there will always be room for gratitude and thanksgiving to God.
Interestingly, the thanksgiving offering must be offered with a lot of bread: A total of 40 loaves, both leavened and unleavened bread. Leavened bread is often seen as a symbol of completion and the fullness of life. Thus we could say that a life lived in perpetual thanksgiving – to God and to fellow beings is an abundant, overflowing life.
Reflection:
Let us all strive for more thanksgiving in our lives!
Prepared by Barbara Kauffmann, Germany
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“Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies.”
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions: Nostra Aetate, No. 4