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In Judaism, the korban (קָרְבָּן, qorbān), also spelled qorban or corban, is any of a variety of sacrificial offerings described and commanded in the Torah. The plural form is korbanot, korbanoth, or korbanos.
The term korban primarily refers to sacrificial offerings given from humans to God for the purpose of doing homage, winning favor, or securing pardon.[1] The object sacrificed was usually an animal that was ritually slaughtered and then transferred from the human to the divine realm by being burned on an altar.[2][3][4] Other sacrifices include grain offerings made of flour and oil, not meat.[5]
After the destruction of the Second Temple, sacrifices were prohibited because there was no longer a Temple, the only place allowed by halakha for sacrifices. Offering of sacrifices was briefly reinstated during the Jewish–Roman wars of the second century CE.[6][7]
When sacrifices were offered in ancient times, they were offered as a fulfillment of Biblical commandments. According to Orthodox Judaism, the coming of the messiah will not remove the requirement to keep the 613 commandments, and when the Temple is rebuilt, sacrifices will be offered again.[8]
While some korbanot were offered as part of the atonement process for sin, this role was strictly limited, and in Judaism atonement can be achieved through means such as repentance even without sacrifices.[9]
Etymology
The Semitic root qrb (קרב) means 'be near'[10] and is found in a number of related languages in addition to Hebrew, e.g. in the Akkadian language noun aqribtu, meaning 'act of offering'. In Hebrew it is found in a number of words, such as qarov, 'close', qerovim, 'relatives', and the hifʕil verb form hiqriv, 'he brought near; offered a sacrifice'. The noun korban (plural korbanot, קָרְבֳּנוֹת) first occurs in the Bible in Leviticus 1:2 and occurs 80 times in the Masoretic Text; 40 times in Leviticus, 38 in Numbers and twice in Ezekiel.[11] The related form qurban appears only in Nehemiah 10:35 and 13:31 referring to the 'wood offering'. The etymology of the 'offer' sense is traditionally understood as deriving from the verbal sense of 'bringing near', viz. bringing the offering near to the deity,[12][13] but some theological explanations see it rather as bringing "man back to God".[14]
The Septuagint generally translates the term in Koine Greek as δῶρον, 'gift', θυσία, 'sacrifice', or προσφορά, 'offering up'. By the Second Temple period, Hellenistic Jewish texts use korban specifically to mean a vow. The New Testament preserves korban once as a transliterated loan-word for a vow, once also a related noun, κορβανάς ('temple treasury'), otherwise using δῶρον, θυσία or προσφορά and other terms drawn from the Septuagint. Josephus also generally uses other words for 'offering' but uses korban for the vow of the Nazirites (Antiquities of the Jews 4:73 / 4,4,4) and cites Theophrastus as having cited a korban vow among the Tyrians (Against Apion 1.167 / 1,22,4).[15]
Purpose
The idea conveyed in most korbanot was that of a "gift" to God.[16]
Korbanot served a variety of purposes. Many were brought purely for the purpose of communing with God and becoming closer to God, or in order to express thanks, gratitude, and love to God.[17]
While some korbanot were offered as part of the atonement process for sin, this role was strictly limited. Standard sin-offerings could only be offered for unintentional sins;[18] according to the rabbis, they could not be offered for all sins, but only for unintentional violations of some of the most serious sins.[19] In addition, korbanot generally had no expiating effect without sincere repentance[20] and restitution to any person who was harmed by the violation.[21] In the absence of sacrifices, atonement can still be achieved through means such as repentance, prayer, or giving tzedakah.[22]
The slaughter of an animal sacrifice is not considered a fundamental part of the sacrifice, but rather is an unavoidable preparatory step to the offering of its meat to God;[23] thus, the slaughter may be performed by any Jew, while the other stages of the sacrifice could only be performed by priests.[24]
Hebrew Bible
Laws and stories
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg/220px-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/High_Priest_Offering_Incense_on_the_Altar.jpg/220px-High_Priest_Offering_Incense_on_the_Altar.jpg)
Offerings are mentioned in the Book of Genesis, but further outlined in the later four books of the Torah, including aspects of their origins and history.[25] Cain and Abel,[26] Noah,[27] Abraham,[28] and Jacob[29] offered sacrifices, as did the Israelites at Mount Sinai.[30]
The Torah contains many laws regarding sacrifices. Every regular weekday, Sabbath, and many Jewish holidays had their own unique offerings.[31] Sacrificial procedures were described in detail.[32] Sacrifices were only to be offered by the Kohanim (hereditary priesthood), whom the Hebrew Bible describes as descendants of Aaron who meet certain marital and ritual purity requirements.[33][34]
Sacrifices were offered in varying locations. Before building the Temple in Jerusalem, when the Israelites were in the desert, sacrifices were only to be offered in the Tabernacle.[35] After the invasion of Canaan, sacrifices were also permitted at bamot in any location until the nation's enemies had been defeated and the people lived securely, after which sacrifices were supposed to be centralized again.[36] However, in practice the bamot were still used even in the secure monarchic period, and the Bible sometimes criticizes Israelite kings for allowing this.[37] Sacrifices outside the main sanctuary are recorded at Beit Shemesh,[38] Mizpah,[39] Ramah,[40] Gilgal,[41] and Bethlehem,[42] among other locations.
After the entry to Canaan, the main sacrificial centre was initially at Shiloh. Under Saul the main center of sacrifice was Nob,[43] though private offerings continued to be made at Shiloh.[44] David created a new sacrificial center in Jerusalem at the threshing floor of Araunaḥ,[45] adjacent to Jerusalem, to which he moved the Ark.[46][47] According to the Hebrew Bible, after the building of Solomon's Temple, sacrifices were only to be carried out there.[48] After Solomon's Temple was destroyed, sacrifices were resumed when the Second Temple was built, until the Second Temple was also destroyed in 70 CE.[49]
Attitudes
Many of the Biblical prophets criticized those Israelites who brought sacrifices while continuing to violate God's will with immoral behavior. This criticism often took the form of scathing denunciations:
What need have I for all your sacrifices? says the Lord.[50]
Your burnt-offerings are not desirable to Me, nor are your sacrifices pleasing to Me.[51]
How shall I come before the Lord, and bow before the exalted God? Shall I approach him with burnt-offerings, with yearling calves? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriads of rivers of oil?... You, man, have been told what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: only to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk modestly with your God.[52]
However, while rejecting the value of sacrifices accompanied by unjust behavior, the same prophets promised an eventual reconciliation between God and a more moral people of Israel, and proclaimed that the reestablishment of sacrifices would be a sign of this reconciliation.[53] Thus sacrifices have a place in their visions of eventual redemption:
I will bring them to My holy mountain; I will gladden them in My house of prayer. Their burnt-offerings and sacrifices will find favor on My altar, for My house will be a house of prayer for all the nations.[54]
Again will be heard in this place... the voice of those who say "Give thanks to the Lord of Hosts, for the Lord is Good, for His kindness is forever", and of those who bring thanksgiving sacrifices to the house of the Lord.[55]
List of sacrifices
This is an incomplete list of sacrifices mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.
Types of sacrifice include:
- Burnt offering (olah), entirely burnt on the altar
- Peace offering (shelamim), mostly eaten by humans
- Sin offering (hatat)
- Guilt offering (asham)
- Gift offering (mincha), consisting of vegetable rather than animal products
Sacrifices offered on specific occasions include:
- Daily offerings (tamid)
- Mussaf (additional) offering for Shabbat and holidays
- The Passover sacrifice
- First Fruits on the holiday of Shavuot.
- Temple tax – The half-shekel tax for Temple needs.
Sacrifices connected to one's personal status or situation include:
- Offering following childbirth (Leviticus 12; see Kinnim)
- The offering for an accused adulterous wife (Ordeal of the bitter water)
- Thank offering (todah)
- Offerings relevant to fulfillment of, or transgression of, the Nazirite vow.
- Offerings following cure from certain diseases and unusual bodily discharges.
Other sacrifices include:
- Dough offering (challah)
- Voluntary offerings
Procedures connected to sacrifices include:
- Semicha (laying on hands) of sacrificial animals
Rabbinical interpretation
100 among the 613 commandments
According to Maimonides, about one hundred of the permanent 613 commandments based on the Torah, by rabbinical enumeration, directly concern sacrifices, excluding those commandments that concern the actual Temple and the priests themselves of which there are about another fifty.[a]
Instructions in Mishnah and Talmud
The Mishnah and Talmud devote a very large section, known as a seder, to the study and analysis of this subject known as Qodashim, whereby all the detailed varieties of korbanot are enumerated and analyzed in great logical depth, such as qodshim kalim ('of minor degree of sanctity') and qodashei qodashim ('of major degree of sanctity'). In addition, large parts of every other book of the Talmud discuss various kinds of sacrifices. Pesachim is largely devoted to a discussion of how to offer the Passover sacrifice. Yoma contains a detailed discussion of the Yom Kippur sacrifices, and there are sections in Seder Moed (Festivals) for the special offerings and Temple ritual for other major Jewish holidays. Shekalim discusses the annual half-shekel offering for Temple maintenance and Temple governance and management, and Nashim discusses the offerings made by Nazirites and the suspected adulteress.
The Talmud provides extensive details not only on how to perform sacrifices but how to adjudicate difficult cases, such what to do if a mistake was made and whether improperly performing one of the required ritual elements invalidates it or not. The Talmud explains how to roast the Passover offering, how to dash blood from different kinds of sacrifices upon the altar, how to prepare the incense, the regulatory code for the system of taxation that financed the priesthood and public sacrifices, and numerous other details.
Rationale and rabbinic commentary
Maimonides, a medieval Jewish scholar, drew on the early critiques of the need for sacrifice, taking the view that God always held sacrifice inferior to prayer and philosophical meditation. However, God understood that the Israelites were used to the animal sacrifices that the surrounding pagan tribes used as the primary way to commune with their gods. As such, in Maimonides' view, it was only natural that Israelites would believe that sacrifice would be a necessary part of the relationship between God and man. This view is controversial since the Torah also forbids worship of foreign idols and practices of pagan religions as "detestable" before God including their sacrifices. Maimonides concludes that God's decision to allow sacrifices was a concession to human psychological limitations. It would have been too much to have expected the Israelites to leap from pagan worship to prayer and meditation in one step. In The Guide for the Perplexed, he writes:
But the custom which was in those days general among men, and the general mode of worship in which the Israelites were brought up consisted in sacrificing animals... It was in accordance with the wisdom and plan of God...that God did not command us to give up and to discontinue all these manners of service. For to obey such a commandment would have been contrary to the nature of man, who generally cleaves to that to which he is used; it would in those days have made the same impression as a prophet would make at present [the 12th century] if he called us to the service of God and told us in His name, that we should not pray to God nor fast, nor seek His help in time of trouble; that we should serve Him in thought, and not by any action.[56]
In contrast, many others such as Nahmanides (in his commentary on Leviticus 1:9) disagreed. Nahmanides cites the fact that the Torah records the practices of animal and other sacrifices from the times of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and earlier.[57] Indeed, the purpose of recounting the near sacrifice of Isaac was to illustrate the sublime significance and need of animal sacrifices as supplanting the abomination of human sacrifices.[58]
Through a non-all encompassing view of the ritual life of "Abraham [sic] as it is presented in the book of Genesis, the evolving philosophical theology that seems to underlie the modes of worship that [he] develops over time [...] is reconstruct[ed.]" Abram's building of a number of altars without mentioning that he sacrificed animals on them, and that for most of these occasions, he "called out in the name of God" is interpreted by Lebens as theologically stating that God's desires are sated without animal sacrifices.[59] Noting that not all these altar building occasions were accompanied by call-outs, and that call-outs also took place on returns, in Everlasting Dominion, American Old Testament scholar Eugene H. Merrill attributes a multipurpose nature to the altars, in which Abram was participating in only one:
Later, Abram, having entered Canaan, "built" an altar to the Lord at Shechem (Gen. 12:7). The narrative fails to speak of his making a sacrifice there; in fact, the inspiration for building the altar is that the Lord "appeared to [him]." This may suggest that mīzbēaḥ refers not so much to an altar of sacrifice as to some kind of stele or monument marking God's presence there. As we shall see, this was not an uncommon thing even among the Israelites (e.g., Judg. 6:24; Josh. 22.21-34; 2 Kings 16:15b). Future generations of Abram's offspring would see the altar at Shechem and remember the promises the Lord had made to their ancestors and to them. The same was true at Bethel (v. 8), and though there is no reference to the appearance of the Lord at that place, there is likewise no record of a sacrifice being made there. Abram himself returned to Bethel; and seeing the altar still there, he "called on the name of the Lord" (Gen 13:4 NIV). The altar clearly served the purpose of a sacred memorial.[60]
Nonetheless, Abram also engaged in the covenant of the pieces which was based on this divine set of promises accompanied by obligations and an animal sacrifice ritual to the extent that it physically symbolized irrevocability.[61] Likewise, in Hebrew, the verb meaning to seal a covenant translates literally as "to cut."[62] Furthermore, to measure the general importance given to animal sacrifice preceding Abram in Genesis, in the story of Cain and Abel the only differentiator mentioned leading God to "[have] not respect [...] unto Cain and to his offering" was Abel's "firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof" as opposed to Cain's "fruit of the ground[.]"[63] Then, starkly contrasting a diminutive effect resulting from Abram's altar building and call-outs, animal sacrifice was institutionalized in the era of Moses in the Book of Numbers 28:1-30:1. The schedule of obligatory sacrifices included two daily lamb burnt-offerings.[64] However, the physical participation of God in the consumption of sacrificial offerings is debatable. The seeming all-time peak occurred with his conclusive victory as Yahweh when Elijah challenged worshippers of the Canaanite deity Baal to pray for fire to light their respective bull animal sacrifices.[65]
As a metaphor
Metaphorically, a person's efforts to purify their soul are described as "sacrific[ing one's] animalistic nature", in order to allow them to become close to God (in keeping with the root of the word korban, meaning to draw close).[66] Devotion to God can be described as "sacrificing one's soul to God", as in the poem Bilvavi mishkan evneh by Yitzchak Hutner.[67]
The end of sacrifices
With the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans, the Jewish practice of offering korbanot stopped for all intents and purposes. Despite subsequent intermittent periods of small Jewish groups offering the traditional sacrifices on the Temple Mount, the practice effectively ended.[citation needed]
Rabbinic Judaism was forced to undergo a significant development in response to this change; no longer could Judaism revolve around the Temple services. The destruction of the Temple led to a development of Jewish observance in the direction of text study, prayer, and other practices, which were seen to varying extents as substitutes for the Temple service.[citation needed] A range of responses is recorded in classical rabbinic literature on this subject:
Once, Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai was walking with his disciple, Rabbi Yehoshua, near Jerusalem after the destruction of the Temple. Rabbi Yehoshua looked at the Temple ruins and said "Alas for us! The place that atoned for the sins of the people Israel lies in ruins!" Then Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai spoke to him these words of comfort: 'Be not grieved, my son. There is another equally meritorious way of gaining ritual atonement, even though the Temple is destroyed. We can still gain ritual atonement through deeds of loving-kindness. For it is written "Loving kindness I desire, not sacrifice." (Hosea 6:6)[68]
In the Babylonian Talmud, a number of sages opined that following Jewish law, doing charitable deeds, and studying Jewish texts is greater than performing animal sacrifices:
Rabbi Elazar said: Doing righteous deeds of charity is greater than offering all of the sacrifices, as it is written: "Doing charity and justice is more desirable to the Lord than sacrifice" (Proverbs 21:3).[69]
Nonetheless, numerous texts of the Talmud stress the importance of and hope for eventual re-introduction of sacrifices, and regard their loss as a tragedy. Partaking of sacrificial offerings was compared to eating directly at one's Father's table, whose loss synagogue worship does not entirely replace. One example is in Berachot:
...at the time that the people of Israel enter the synagogues and houses of study, and respond (in the Kaddish) "May His great name be blessed", the Holy One, Blessed is He, shakes His head and says: "Fortunate for the king who is praised this way in his house. What is there for the Father who has exiled His children. And woe to the children who have been exiled from their Father's table."[70]
Another example is in Sheqalim:
Rabbi Akiva said: Shimon Ben Loga related the following to me: I was once collecting grasses, and I saw a child from the House of Avitnas (the incense-makers). And I saw that he cried, and I saw that he laughed. I said to him, "My son, why did you cry?" He said, Because of the glory of my Father's house that has decreased." I asked "And why did you laugh?" He said to me "Because of the glory prepared for the righteous in the future." I asked "And what did you see?" [that brought on these emotions]. "The herb maaleh ashan [used in Temple incense] is growing next to me."[71]
In non-Orthodox Judaism
Non-Orthodox branches of Judaism (Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist) regard the korbanot as an ancient ritual that will not return.
Conservative Judaism disavows the resumption of korbanot. Consistent with this view, it has deleted prayers for the resumption of sacrifices from the Conservative siddur, including the morning study section from the sacrifices and prayers for the restoration of qorbanot in the Amidah, and various mentions elsewhere. Consistent with its view that priesthood and sacrificial system will not be restored, Conservative Judaism has also lifted certain restrictions on kohanim, including limitations on marriage prohibiting marrying a divorced woman or a convert. Conservative Judaism does, however, believe in the restoration of a Temple in some form, and in the continuation of kohanim and Levites under relaxed requirements, and has retained references to both in its prayer books. Consistent with its stress on the continuity of tradition, many Conservative synagogues have also retained references to Shabbat and Festival korbanot, changing all references to sacrifices into the past tense (e.g. the Orthodox "and there we will sacrifice" is changed to "and there they sacrificed"). Some more liberal Conservative synagogues, however, have removed all references to sacrifices, past or present, from the prayer service. The most recent official Conservative prayer book, Sim Shalom, provides both service alternatives.
Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism disavow all belief in a restoration of a Temple, the resumption of korbanot, or the continuation of identified Cohens or Levites. These branches of Judaism believe that all such practices represent ancient practices inconsistent with the requirements of modernity, and have removed all or virtually all references to korbanot from their prayer books.[citation needed]
In prayer
The traditional prayer book, as developed over the past two millenia, contains many references to Temple sacrifices, prayers for their resumption, and rituals intended to remind worshipers of the Temple service.
Numerous details of the daily religious practice of an ordinary Jew are connected to keeping memory of the rhythm of the life of the Temple and its sacrifices.
Contemporary Orthodox Judaism
Today Orthodox Judaism includes mention of each korban on either a daily basis in the siddur (daily prayer book) or in the machzor (holiday prayerbook) as part of the prayers for the relevant days concerned. They are also referred to in the prayerbooks of Conservative Judaism, in an abbreviated fashion.
References to sacrifices in the Orthodox prayer service include:
- The standard prayer services (shacharit, mincha, maariv, and mussaf) were instituted to correspond to sacrifices once offered at the same times.[72]
- The mussaf prayer (recited on Shabbat and Jewish holidays) requests the reinstitution of the special sacrifices for those days.
- Korbanot (see section below) – a section of the morning prayer service devoted to readings related to the sacrifices.
- Retzai – Every Orthodox Amidah, the central prayer of Jewish services, contains the paragraph: "Be favorable, Oh Lord our God, to your people Israel and their prayer, and restore the service of the Holy of Holies of Your House, and accept the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayer with love and favor, and may the service of your people Israel always be favored." (Conservative Judaism removes the fire-offerings clause from this prayer.)
- Yehi Ratzon – Private recitation of the Amidah traditionally ends with the Yehi Ratzon prayer for the restoration of the Temple.
- The Amidah itself is said to represent liturgically the purpose of the daily korban, while the recitation of the korbanot sections fulfill the formal responsibility to perform them, in the absence of the Temple.
- After the weekday Torah reading, a prayer is recited for the restoration of the Temple: "May it be the will before our Father who is in heaven to establish the House of our lives and to return his Shekhinah into our midst, speedily, in our days, and let us say Amen."
- The Torah reading for each Jewish holiday includes the passage describing that holiday's mussaf sacrifice.
- The traditional texts for selichot, and for each Yom Kippur prayer, include a request that God fulfill the promise of Isaiah 56:7 that sacrifices will be resumed in the Temple and accepted by God.
The korbanot section of prayer
A section of the morning daily Shacharit prayer is called Korbanot, and is mostly devoted to recitation of legal passages relating to the sacrifices. According to the Talmud, this recitation takes the place of the sacrificial offering, and achieves the same atonement that would have been achieved by sacrifices if they were possible.[73]
In the Nusach Ashkenaz custom, this section includes the following:[74]
- Korban Tamid – the biblical command to offer a daily morning and evening sacrifice (Numbers 28:1–8, Leviticus 1:11)
- On Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh, Biblical verses regarding the mussaf offerings for those days (Numbers 28:9–10 and Numbers 28:11–15 respectively) are recited after the Korban Tamid.
- Eizehu mekoman – a concise overview of all the sacrifices and many of their laws (Chapter 5 of Mishnah Zevachim). Some[who?] suggest that it was included in the siddur at this stage because it discusses all the sacrifices and the sages do not dispute within it.
- Rabbi Yishmael omer – Rabbi Yishmael's 13 rules of exegesis (Introduction to the Sifra).
- The study session concludes with a short prayer (Yehi Ratzon) "...that the Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days... and may the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasing to God, as in days of old and in former years."
The passage Rabbi Yishmael omer does not discuss sacrifices, and recitation of both it and Eizehu mekoman was instituted so that a person would study a selection of each of the three divisions of Torah (mikra, mishnah, gemara) each day, not because of any connection to sacrifices.[75] However, these passages are still commonly considered part of the korbanot section of prayer.
In a later period, some communities began to add the following (all or some of the paragraphs):
- Kiyor – Describing the basin containing pure water to wash up before touching the korbanot (offerings), based on Exodus 30:17–21
- Trumat Hadeshen – Removing the ashes of the korban olah (elevation offering), based on Leviticus 6:1–6
- Ketoret (Incense offering): Based on Exodus 30:34 and Exodus 36:7–8 as well as a rabbinic text derived from Talmud (Kritut 6a; Jerusalem Talmud Yoma 4:5, 33a).
Resumption of sacrifices
Attitudes
The prevailing belief among rabbinic Jews is that in the messianic era, the Messiah will come, and a Third Temple will be built. The standard Amidah prayer-text, recited daily by Jews worldwide for the last 1800 years, asks God to "return the service to the Holy of Holies of your Temple, and the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayers may you accept with favor".[76] It is believed that the korbanot will be reinstituted, but to what extent and for how long is unknown.
According to some classical rabbinic sources hold that most or all sacrifices will not be offered: "In the future all sacrifices, with the exception of the Thanksgiving-sacrifice, will be discontinued."[77]
Maimonides and Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, despite some claims, believed that sacrifices would be resumed in the messianic era.[78] However, Kook believed that sacrifices could only be resumed once there was "an open appearance of the holy spirit in Israel".[79] Rabbi Hayim David HaLevi suggested that the future sacrificial service might be limited to grain-offerings, with no animal sacrifices being performed.[80] He based this assertion, which he called "highly novel", on Malachi 3:4 which speaks only of future mincha offerings, as well as the assumption that the word mincha refers to grain-offerings, as it usually does. However, according to other interpretations, mincha can also refer to animal sacrifices.[81]
According to a minority opinion in the Talmud, in the future the Torah's commandments will be nullified.[82] Interpretations of this statement differ as to which commandments will be nullified, for whom, and at what stage (for example, Rashba ruled that commandments are nullified for a person after they have died but never for the living).[83] Some kabbalistic sources envision a messianic era when the natural order will drastically change, and animals will be on a human level, at which point no animal sacrifices will be offered.[78]
Orthodox Judaism holds that in the messianic era, most or all of the korbanot will be reinstituted, at least for a time.
Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism hold that no animal sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt Temple at all.
Halakhic issues
In the 1800s a number of Orthodox rabbis studied the idea of reinstating korbanot on the Temple Mount, even though the messianic era had not yet arrived and the Temple was not rebuilt. A number of responsa concluded that within certain parameters, it is permissible according to Jewish law to offer such sacrifices. The debate on this topic involves numerous complex halakhic questions, among them:[84]
- Whether Jews are commanded nowadays to build a Temple
- Whether sacrifices may be offered in the absence of a Temple
- Whether the proper locations of the Temple building and altar can be identified
- Whether the surviving halachic texts provide enough detail to construct the Temple and its vessels properly
- Whether the current state of ritual impurity prevents offering sacrifices
- Whether the proper representation of the Jewish people can be organized for communal sacrifices
- Whether priests and Levites whose status can be properly verified can be identified.
During the early 20th century, Israel Meir Kagan advised some followers to set up special yeshivas for married students known as Qodshim Kolelim that would specialize in the study of the korbanot and study with greater intensity the qodshim sections of the Talmud in order to prepare for the arrival of the Jewish Messiah who would oversee the rebuilding of the original Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem that would be known as the Third Temple. His advice was taken seriously and today there are a number of well-established Haredi institutions in Israel that focus solely on the subject of the korbanot, qodshim, and the needs of the future Jewish Temple, such as the Brisk tradition and Soloveitchik dynasty.
Efforts to resume sacrifices
A few groups, notably the Temple Institute and the Temple Mount Faithful, have petitioned the Israeli government to rebuild a Third Temple on the Temple Mount and restore sacrificial worship. The Israeli government has not responded favorably. Most Orthodox Jews regard rebuilding a Temple as an activity for a Jewish Messiah as part of a future Jewish eschatology, and most non-Orthodox Jews do not believe in the restoration of sacrificial worship at all. The Temple Institute has been constructing ritual objects in preparation for a resumption of sacrifices.
See also
Notes
- ^ The 101 by Maimonides' estimate are:
- Not to burn anything on the Golden Altar besides incense (Exodus 30:9)
- To offer only unblemished animals (Leviticus 22:21)
- Not to dedicate a blemished animal for the altar (Leviticus 22:20)
- Not to slaughter it (Leviticus 22:22)
- Not to sprinkle its blood (Leviticus 22:24)
- Not to burn its khelev (Leviticus 22:22)
- Not to offer a temporarily blemished animal (Deuteronomy 17:1)
- Not to sacrifice blemished animals even if offered by non-Jews (Leviticus 22:25)
- Not to inflict wounds upon dedicated animals (Leviticus 22:21)
- To redeem dedicated animals which have become disqualified (Deuteronomy 12:15)
- To offer only animals which are at least eight days old (Leviticus 22:27)
- Not to offer animals bought with the wages of a harlot or the animal exchanged for a dog (Deuteronomy 23:19)
- Not to burn honey or yeast on the altar (Leviticus 2:11)
- To salt all sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13)
- Not to omit the salt from sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13)
- Carry out the procedure of the burnt offering as prescribed in the Torah (Leviticus 1:3)
- Not to eat its meat (Deuteronomy 12:17)
- Carry out the procedure of the sin offering (Leviticus 6:18)
- Not to eat the meat of the inner sin offering (Leviticus 6:23)
- Not to decapitate a fowl brought as a sin offering (Leviticus 5:8)
- Carry out the procedure of the guilt offering (Leviticus 7:1)
- The kohanim must eat the sacrificial meat in the Temple (Exodus 29:33)
- The kohanim must not eat the meat outside the Temple courtyard (Deuteronomy 12:17)
- A non-kohen must not eat sacrificial meat (Exodus 29:33)
- To follow the procedure of the peace offering (Leviticus 7:11)
- Not to eat the meat of minor sacrifices before sprinkling the blood (Deuteronomy 12:17)
- To bring meal offerings as prescribed in the Torah (Leviticus 2:1)
- Not to put oil on the meal offerings of wrongdoers (Leviticus 5:11)
- Not to put frankincense on the meal offerings of wrongdoers (Leviticus 3:11)
- Not to eat the meal offering of the High Priest (Leviticus 6:16)
- Not to bake a meal offering as leavened bread (Leviticus 6:10)
- The kohanim must eat the remains of the meal offerings (Leviticus 6:9)
- To bring all avowed and freewill offerings to the Temple on the first subsequent festival (Deuteronomy 12:5-6)
- To offer all sacrifices in the Temple (Deuteronomy 12:11)
- To bring all sacrifices from outside Israel to the Temple (Deuteronomy 12:26)
- Not to slaughter sacrifices outside the courtyard (of the Temple) (Leviticus 17:4)
- Not to offer any sacrifices outside the courtyard (of the Temple) (Deuteronomy 12:13)
- To offer two lambs every day (Numbers 28:3)
- To light a fire on the altar every day (Leviticus 6:6)
- Not to extinguish this fire (Leviticus 6:6)
- To remove the ashes from the altar every day (Leviticus 6:3)
- To burn incense every day (Exodus 30:7)
- The Kohen Gadol must bring a meal offering every day (Leviticus 6:13)
- To bring two additional lambs as burnt offerings on Shabbat (Numbers 28:9)
- To bring additional offerings on the New Month (Rosh Khodesh) (Numbers 28:11)
- To bring additional offerings on Passover (Numbers 28:19)
- To offer the wave offering from the meal of the new wheat (Leviticus 23:10)
- To bring additional offerings on Shavuot (Numbers 28:26)
- To bring two leaves to accompany the above sacrifice (Leviticus 23:17)
- To bring additional offerings on Rosh Hashana (Numbers 29:2)
- To bring additional offerings on Yom Kippur (Numbers 29:8)
- To bring additional offerings on Sukkot (Numbers 29:13)
- To bring additional offerings on Shmini Atzeret (Numbers 29:35)
- Not to eat sacrifices which have become unfit or blemished (Deuteronomy 14:3)
- Not to eat from sacrifices offered with improper intentions (Leviticus 7:18)
- Not to leave sacrifices past the time allowed for eating them (Leviticus 22:30)
- Not to eat from that which was left over (Leviticus 19:8)
- Not to eat from sacrifices which became impure (Leviticus 7:19)
- An impure person must not eat from sacrifices (Leviticus 7:20)
- To burn the leftover sacrifices (Leviticus 7:17)
- To burn all impure sacrifices (Leviticus 7:19)
- To follow the [sacrificial] procedure of Yom Kippur in the sequence prescribed in Parshah Acharei Mot ("After the death of Aaron's sons...") (Leviticus 16:3)
- One who profaned property must repay what he profaned plus a fifth and bring a sacrifice (Leviticus 5:16)
- Not to work consecrated animals (Deuteronomy 15:19)
- Not to shear the fleece of consecrated animals (Deuteronomy 15:19)
- To slaughter the paschal sacrifice at the specified time (Exodus 12:6)
- Not to slaughter it while in possession of leaven (Exodus 23:18)
- Not to leave the fat overnight (Exodus 23:18)
- To slaughter the second Paschal lamb (Numbers 9:11)
- To eat the Passover sacrifice with matzah and marror on the night of the 15th of Nissan (Exodus 12:8)
- To eat the second Paschal Lamb on the night of the 15th of Iyar (Numbers 9:11)
- Not to eat the Paschal meat raw or boiled (Exodus 12:9)
- Not to take the Paschal meat from the confines of the group (Exodus 12:46)
- An apostate must not eat from it (Exodus 12:43)
- A permanent or temporary hired worker must not eat from it (Exodus 12:45)
- An uncircumcised male must not eat from it (Exodus 12:48)
- Not to break any bones from the paschal offering (Exodus 12:46)
- Not to break any bones from the second paschal offering (Numbers 9:12)
- Not to leave any meat from the Paschal offering over until morning (Exodus 12:10)
- Not to leave the second Paschal meat over until morning (Numbers 9:12)
- Not to leave the meat of the holiday offering of the 14th until the 16th (Deuteronomy 16:4)
- To celebrate on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot at the Temple (bring a peace offering) (Exodus 23:14)
- To rejoice on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering) (Deuteronomy 16:14)
- Not to appear at the Temple without offerings (Deuteronomy 16:16)
- Not to refrain from rejoicing with, and giving gifts to, the Levites (Deuteronomy 12:19)
- The kohanim must not eat unblemished firstborn animals outside Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 12:17)
- Every person must bring a sin offering for his transgression (Leviticus 4:27)
- Bring an asham talui when uncertain of guilt (Leviticus 5:17-18)
- Bring an asham vadai when guilt is ascertained (Leviticus 5:25)
- Bring an oleh v'yored offering (if the person is wealthy, an animal; if poor, a bird or meal offering) (Leviticus 5:7-11)
- The Sanhedrin must bring an offering when it rules in error (Leviticus 4:13)
- A woman who had a running issue (unnatural menstrual flow) must bring an offering after she goes to the ritual bath (Leviticus 15:28-29)
- A woman who gave birth must bring an offering after she goes to the bath (Leviticus 12:6)
- A man who had a running issue (unnatural semen flow) must bring an offering after he goes to the bath (Leviticus 15:13-14)
- A metzora (a person with tzaraas) must bring an offering after going to the Mikveh (Leviticus 14:10)
- Not to substitute another beast for one set apart for sacrifice (temurah) (Leviticus 27:10)
- The new animal, in addition to the substituted one, retains consecration (Leviticus 27:10)
- Not to change consecrated animals from one type of offering to another (Leviticus 27:26)
- Carry out the procedure of the red heifer (Numbers 19:2)
- Carry out the laws of the sprinkling water (Numbers 19:21)
- Break the neck of a calf by the river valley following an unsolved murder (Deuteronomy 21:4)
References
- ^ Hirsch, Emil G.; Kohler, Kaufmann; Seligsohn, M.; Singer, Isidore; Lauterbach, Jacob Zallel; Jacobs, Joseph (1906). "Sacrifice". Jewish Encyclopedia.
- ^ Halbertal, Moshe (2012). On sacrifice (PDF). Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 1. ISBN 9780691163307.
- ^ Gilders, William K. (2010). "Sacrifice". Obo in Biblical Studies. doi:10.1093/obo/9780195393361-0109.
- ^ "Sacrifice in Judaism". www2.kenyon.edu.
- ^ cf. Leviticus 6:7–11
- ^ Rich, Tracey R. (1998–2011). "Qorbanot: Sacrifices and Offerings". Judaism 101. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ Straight Dope Science Advisory Board (17 April 2003). "Why do Jews no longer sacrifice animals?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ Jenson, Robert W.; Korn, Eugene (2012). Covenant and Hope: Christian and Jewish Reflections. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8028-6704-9.
- ^ Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance 1:3-8
- ^ G. Johannes Botterweck; Helmer Ringgren; Heinz-Josef Fabry (9 January 2004). Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-8028-2337-3.
- ^ Concordance: קׇרְבָּן
- ^ "Klein Dictionary, קָרְבָּן". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
- ^ Judaism in biological perspective: biblical lore and Judaic practices Rick Goldberg - 2008 "The traditional etymology of korban is of a valuable object "brought near to God" (through the sacrificial act)."
- ^ Solomon Schechter in Understanding rabbinic Judaism, from Talmudic to modern times ed. Jacob Neusner p229 "Hence the injunction to bring a Korban (sacrifice) even in this case; the effect of the Korban, as its etymology (Karab) indicates, is to bring man back to God, or rather to facilitate this approach."
- ^ S Zeitlin Korban The Jewish Quarterly Review, 1962 - JSTOR "Josephus, in Against Apion, who endeavored to ... Greek world was acquainted with the Judaeans, wrote that, "The laws of the Tyrians forbid men to swear foreign oaths, among which he [Theophrastus] enumerates some others and particularly that called korban, which oath ..."
- ^ Maude, Mary Fawler (1862). Scripture manners and customs. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. p. 508. ISBN 1-147-04502-X. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ "Jewish Practices & Rituals: Sacrifices and Offerings (Karbanot)". Jewish Virtual Library. AICE. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ Leviticus 4:2
- ^ Mishnah, Kritot 1:1-2
- ^ Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance 1:3,6
- ^ Mishnah, Yoma 8:9
- ^ Diamant, Anita (2007). Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-8052-1219-8.
- ^ חידוש הקורבנות בעידן המודרני
- ^ Mishnah Zevachim 3:1
- ^ Carasik, Michael (2009). מקראות גדולות: Leviticus. Jewish Publication Society. ISBN 978-0-8276-0897-9., page 3 "The majority of Leviticus deals with the offerings: how they are to be made, by whom, and where, as well as the ancillary rules that go along ...."
- ^ Genesis 4:3–4
- ^ Genesis 8:20
- ^ Genesis 15:9–10
- ^ Genesis 46:1
- ^ Exodus 24:4–5
- ^ James E Smith The Pentateuch Page 392 2006 "Leviticus 23 presents in chronological order a list of "the Lord's appointed feasts. [...] Special offerings were presented each day of the feast."
- ^ Leviticus 1–7
- ^ Himmelfarb, Martha (2006). A Kingdom of Priests: Ancestry and Merit in Ancient Judaism. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 5.
On the other hand, P and H, the priestly sources, grant the priesthood only to descendants of Aaron, Levi's great-grandson.
- ^ Henry W. Soltau, The Tabernacle, the Priesthood, and the Offerings, 1972
- ^ Leviticus 17:1–5
- ^ Deuteronomy 12:8–11
- ^ 1 Kings 14:23–23, 22:43–44, etc.
- ^ 1 Samuel 6:14–15
- ^ 1 Samuel 7:9
- ^ Samuel 7:17; 9:11–24
- ^ I Samuel 10:8; 11:15;13:9
- ^ 1 Samuel 16:2–5
- ^ 1 Samuel 21:1 and the following verses.
- ^ 2 Samuel 15:12
- ^ Also known as Ornan; 1 Chron. 21:23–26
- ^ 2 Samuel 6:17–18; 1 Chronicles 16:2, 40
- ^ Encyclopaedia Judaica | second edition | vol 17 | sacrifice | pg 645 | Anson Rainey
- ^ O'Day, Gail R.; Petersen, David L. (28 April 2009). Theological Bible Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-1-61164-030-4.
- ^ Baruch A. Levine In the presence of the Lord: a study of cult and some cultic terms 1974, Page 99: "The Bible gives evidence of two modes of sacrifice in ancient Israel: 1) Altar sacrifices, of which at least some part was consumed by the altar fire, or was burnt as incense, and 2) Offerings placed before the deity and ..."
- ^ Isaiah 1:11
- ^ Jeremiah 6:20
- ^ Micah 6:6–8
- ^ Jacob Chinitz, "Were the Prophets Opposed to Sacrifice?", Jewish Bible Quarterly 36 (April-June 2008):2
- ^ Isaiah 56:7
- ^ Jeremiah 33:10–11
- ^ Book III, Chapter 32. Translated by M. Friedlander, 1904, The Guide for the Perplexed, Dover Publications, 1956 edition
- ^ Klein, Reuven Chaim (2021). Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual Sacrifices", Religions 12:5.
- ^ Kahn, Ari (2019). Explorations Expanded: Sefer Bereishit. Kodesh Press. ISBN 978-1947857292.
- ^ Samuel Lebens (2021). "Abraham's Empty Altars". European Journal for Philosophy of Religion. 13 (4).
- ^ Eugene H. Merrill (2006). Everlasting Dominion. B&H Publishing Group. ISBN 9781433670480.
- ^ Genesis 15:9–10
- ^ "Circumcision." Mark Popovsky. Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. Ed. David A. Leeming, Kathryn Madden and Stanton Marlan. New York: Springer, 2010. pp.153-154.
- ^ Genesis 4:1–5
- ^ Numbers 28:3–4
- ^ 1 Kings 18:39
- ^ Dubov, Nissan Dovid. "Jewish Meditation". Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center. Retrieved 2006-08-17.
- ^ אזכרי אלעזר
- ^ Avot of Rabbi Nathan 4:5
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 49
- ^ Talmud Berachot 3a
- ^ Jerusalem Talmud, Shekalim 5:1
- ^ Berakhot 26b
- ^ Taanit 27b
- ^ These are the only sections that appear in original Nusach Ashkenaz, see for example the siddur of Rav Eliya Bochur from the 16th century.
- ^ Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 50:1
- ^ Siddur Ashkenaz, Amidah
- ^ Leviticus Rabbah 9:7, Tanchuma Emor 14
- ^ a b The Korbanot
- ^ Igrot Reayah 4:24: אי אפשר לנו לגשת למעשה הקרבנות בלא הופעה של רוח הקדש גלויה בישראל.
- ^ Hayim David Halevi, Torat Haim, Vayikra, p.19-20
- ^ Dictionary: מִנְחָה
- ^ Niddah 61b
- ^ Rashba, chiddushim to Niddah 61b
- ^ מפתח לטענות בעד ונגד חידוש עבודת הקרבנות בזמן הזה
Bibliography
- Bleich, J. David. "A Review of Halakhic Literature Pertaining to the Reinstitution of the Sacrificial Order." Tradition 9 (1967): 103–24.
- Myers, Jody Elizabeth. "Attitudes Towards a Resumption of Sacrificial Worship in the Nineteenth Century." Modern Judaism 7, no. 1 (1987): 29–49.
- Ticker, Jay. The Centrality of Sacrifices as an Answer to Reform in the Thought of Zvi Hirsch Kalischer. Vol. 15, Working Papers in Yiddish and East European Studies, 1975