Weekly Parsha

This week's Torah portion includes the laws of: the Burnt Offering, Meal Offering, High Priest's Offering, Sin Offerings, Guilt Offerings and Peace Offerings. It concludes with the portions of the Peace Offerings which are allotted to the Priests and the installation ceremony of the Priest for serving in the Sanctuary.

Rabbi Kalman Packouz

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Dvar Torah
by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

The Torah states regarding the offering of a specific sacrifice:

"If for thanksgiving he offers it, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and fine flour soaked and made into cakes mingled with oil" (Leviticus 7:12).

What possible lesson can we learn from the bread brought with the sacrifice?

When a person's life is in danger and he is saved, it is incumbent upon him to bring a korbon todah, a thanksgiving offering. Together with the offering he also brought forty loaves of bread in four different forms. One of each kind was given to the Kohen. The remaining thirty-six were his to eat -- however, there was a time limit. He had the remainder of the day and the following night to consume them.

The Sforno, the great 16th century Italian commentator, comments that the purpose of this extremely short time period was to ensure that he would share the bread with others. This would ultimately publicize the fortunate event. The lesson for us: Publicize your joy and gratitude to the multitudes for the Almighty's kindnesses, but seek one sympathetic and understanding listener for the problems. Share joy with others and your life will be more joyous.