Reply To: Short & Sweet

Pinchas: Be Like The Korban

After Moshe asked Hashem to appoint a worthy leader to lead “the flock of Hashem”, Hashem instructed Moshe about the Korbanos. The Medrash explains that this juxtaposition was no accident. Hashem was telling Moshe: עד שאתה מצוני על בני, צוה את בני עלי – “Rather than commanding Me regarding My children, command My children regarding Me.”

R’ Shimon Schwab points out that the Medrash indicates that the commandment of the Korbanos applies to every Jew, not just the Kohanim. He explains that the different animals that are brought for various Korbanos represent different Jews, each living a different life, but all tied together in the tapestry of Avodas Hashem.

The sheep, which is brought for the daily תמיד, represents the simple Jew who faithfully follows the Torah. The ram represents a person with noteworthy deeds, just as a ram leads the sheep. The ox repents the Tzaddik who is always engaged in Avodas Hashem, just as the ox is constantly working for its master. The goat, which is brought for a חטאת, represents the Baal Teshuva.

We can now better understand, explains R’ Schwab, what Hashem was telling Moshe. Moshe had asked Hashem לא תהיה עדת ה׳ כצאן אשר אין להן רועה, “Let not the nation of Hashem be like sheep who have no shepherd.” Hashem’s answer was that if Bnei Yisroel properly internalize the message of the Korbanos, they will never be without a shepherd; for they will recognize that it Hashem who always guiding them.

לע״נ דוד חיים בן ישראל דוב הכהן
לע״נ ר׳ חיים דוב בן ר׳ בןציון שלום