דבר תורה פרשת ויקרא

דבר תורה פרשת ויקרא

In this week’s parsha, Bnai Yisrael are introduced to the korbanot. In order for Bnai Yisrael to start doing korbanot, they have to learn how to do them, so the parsha begins with explaining the rules. First, they have to check the animal to make sure it is holy. Then, they need to slaughter the animal the right way. After the animal is slaughtered, the animal is skinned.

The Torah tells us that when the leader of the people such as the Kohen Gadol sins unintentionally, he has to bring a special korban. This korban is not the ordinary korban that a person brings when he commits a sin unintentionally. The leader, however, has to bring a korban that is very similar to that brought on Yom Kippur by the Kohen Gadol.

Why the difference? Why can he not bring the regular sacrifice? The pasuk is referring to an event where the leader gave the wrong decision in a question dealing with halacha and he himself followed this ruling and acted accordingly. In such a case, his mistake is not an ordinary one. Since he is a leader he is a symbol for others. People will look at the way he acts and will copy him. His punishment has to be a greater one. This teaches us that a person of leadership, or for that matter, anyone who has an affect on others has to be extra careful about how he acts. If people will follow his example then when they do wrong, not only are they transgressing, but responsibility evolves also on the person who influenced them to do that act. This really applies to everyone. Everyone serves as an example for others and someone will follow in their footsteps. Hence a person should be very careful when he does something that it is not a deed that others would imitate.

Shabbat Shalom,

Jacob Horn and Yosi Gold and Eliyahu Najman 5c