parsha bit: Vayikra

[cellio]

The book of Vayikra describes in detail the various korbanot (sacrifices) to be brought under different conditions. After the destruction of the temple this was no longer possible, and the rabbis declared prayer to be a temporary replacement. The Rambam held that this was not meant to be temporary; it was part of the progression from animal sacrifice to prayer to intellectual contemplation. In modern times, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said that prayer doesn't replace sacrifice; it is sacrifice. We sacrifice selfishness and greed in a quest for truth, mercy, and love. (Man's Quest for God: Studies in Prayer and Symbolism, as cited in another torah commentary not presently to hand.)

Comments

[dvarin.livejournal.com]

Isn't that confusing the two meanings of "sacrifice"?
I mean, you're presumably not sharing out selfishness among priests and supplicants after dedicating it to God, like you would with a physical offering?