BREAD AND BUTTER AND JAM

“Vehikravtem and you shall bring an offering Al HaLehem with the bread” (Lev.23.18)

The expression Al HaLehem occurs twice in Scripture, once as above and once in the Torah text, “For man does not live Al Halehem by bread alone, but man lives from everything that proceeds from the mouth of Hashem” (Deut.8.3). (Baal Haturim)

Man is a spiritual and a physical being. Bread as nourishment for his physicality is not enough, he also requires spiritual food. However, whereas material satisfaction is attained through gain by acquiring, taking in and consuming, spiritual satisfaction is derived from sacrifice, surrender, giving up.

What kind of offering does a person have to make?

He brings a Korban to bring him Karov – close to divinity. So he gives up separateness, being apart; he sacrifices the self; he surrenders the ‘I’.

Spirituality in sanctity is not achieved in a vacuum. It comes with togetherness, with union in communion.

It may be found within the Community of Israel.

Shabbat Shalom!

SPIRAL INSTITUTE
info@spiral.org.za