In the second parasha of the Book of Leviticus, Tzav, there is emphasis in the opening lines about the altar in the mishkan/tabernacle/tent of meeting/sanctuary where a perpetual fire is to be fueled and always burning. There is even a particular place on the altar where the burning of offerings is to take place.
While sacrifices, especially those of animals, may not feel particularly resonant for the modern Jew reading Leviticus, the rabbis have described how these practices have evolved in Jewish spiritual technology. After the destruction of the Temple, sacrifice was replaced by prayer as a means of connection with the sacred. The altar was replaced by the bima – the place from which the community prayer leader leads their prayer.
But prayer is not the only parallel to sacrifice. Indeed mindful eating and the connection between one another at the dining table is also spoken of in Jewish tradition as a technological evolution from this altar. This is one reason for the tradition of putting a little salt on one’s challah before eating it on shabbat – the table is the altar and the food is the offering.
If indeed our dining table is the altar on which we make offerings toward closeness and connection, then Leviticus reminds us the importance of mindful eating and of meals that inspire connection. One may question why Passover comes every year as we are in the midst of reading from Leviticus when we might assume it would be better to be in the midst of reading early in Exodus – which contains the story of Passover itself. Perhaps we can understand from this that while retelling the Passover story is a key element of our seders, the point may in fact be about who we share our table with, what we eat and how, and whether the experiences we create indeed inspire deeper connection and closeness with one another and the divine.
As Seder is so suddenly soon, take a moment for intentionality about with whom, where, and with what food you might spend a moment of Passover. It may indeed be a sacred offering.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
While sacrifices, especially those of animals, may not feel particularly resonant for the modern Jew reading Leviticus, the rabbis have described how these practices have evolved in Jewish spiritual technology. After the destruction of the Temple, sacrifice was replaced by prayer as a means of connection with the sacred. The altar was replaced by the bima – the place from which the community prayer leader leads their prayer.
But prayer is not the only parallel to sacrifice. Indeed mindful eating and the connection between one another at the dining table is also spoken of in Jewish tradition as a technological evolution from this altar. This is one reason for the tradition of putting a little salt on one’s challah before eating it on shabbat – the table is the altar and the food is the offering.
If indeed our dining table is the altar on which we make offerings toward closeness and connection, then Leviticus reminds us the importance of mindful eating and of meals that inspire connection. One may question why Passover comes every year as we are in the midst of reading from Leviticus when we might assume it would be better to be in the midst of reading early in Exodus – which contains the story of Passover itself. Perhaps we can understand from this that while retelling the Passover story is a key element of our seders, the point may in fact be about who we share our table with, what we eat and how, and whether the experiences we create indeed inspire deeper connection and closeness with one another and the divine.
As Seder is so suddenly soon, take a moment for intentionality about with whom, where, and with what food you might spend a moment of Passover. It may indeed be a sacred offering.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
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