parsha bit: Vayikra

When the temple was destroyed it was no longer possible to bring the korbanot (offerings) mandated in the book of Vayikra, and the rabbis instittuted prayer as a substitute. Some of the rabbis said that prayer was not just equivalent but superior to korbanot: prayer could be offered anywhere and at any time, unlike the korbanot, and could take the form of meditation or words spoken from the heart. (Tanchuma, Vayera, 31b)

(Actually, even before the temple was destroyed there were synagogues where people prayed instead of journeying to Yerushalayim.)

morning minyan

It's good to sit in the congregation every now and then. I've been leading the morning service for something over a year now. A couple days ago I got a phone call -- would I be willing to defer to another leader on "my" day for a special occasion? Yes, of course -- not a problem, I said. So this morning I heard someone else lead, and picked up a few nuances. And they gave me an aliya, too. :-) (They've never given me one while I was leading, nor would I want them to. Leading is already an honor; give the honor of an aliya to someone else.)