The Sedra Vayikra 5783

The Talmud taught, “From the day that the Temple was destroyed God has nothing in His world, except for the four cubits of halacha (Jewish law).” The Jewish world of Torah that existed when the Temple stood was vastly different than the one we practice today. The many avenues provided in the Torah to connect to God have been vastly limited. The Talmud taught that the one avenue that still exists, and is the best method of connecting to God, is the study of Torah. The substitution of reciting verses of offerings for giving the offerings wasn’t meant to replace the values of the Rambam and Ramban of offerings, but rather to allow us to connect to God in the best method possible, Torah study. Unlike other religions, Judaism places a premium on study over practice. As unique as the emphasis on Torah study is, it is the most effective. The lesson of the book of Vayikra is the primacy of Torah study.