How saddening is the historical missed opportunity by the authors of the Torah

"Nir's Weekly Parasha" - Parashat Vayikra

How saddening is the historical missed opportunity by the authors of the Torah, who could have established a supreme moral standard prohibiting harm to animals. At all. Ever. But they lacked either the wisdom, the courage, or both.

Parashat Vayikra is the first Torah portion in the Book of Leviticus, beginning with Chapter 1, Verse 1, and concluding in Chapter 5, Verse 26. The portion addresses the laws concerning sacrifices offered in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later in the Temple, as well as general regulations regarding all sacrificial rites. Detailed are:

The laws of the Olah (Burnt Offering): A sacrifice entirely consumed by fire on the altar, not eaten by anyone; this includes offerings from cattle, sheep or goats, birds, and plant-based offerings (typically brought by the poor); the Meal Offering (Minchah) of fine flour, baked offerings from an oven, pan-fried offerings, and deep-fried offerings (flour mixed with oil and fried deeply in a pan). From these meal offerings, the priest takes a handful after crumbling it into pieces and burns that portion on the altar. The remainder of the offering is eaten by the priests.

How regrettable is the historical missed opportunity by the Torah's authors, who could have defined any harm to animals as a sin, turning the Jewish people into a vegan nation by divine command. What a profound missed chance! Even more troubling is the fact that harming animals was designated as a means to atone for human sins—making it not only morally wrong but utterly senseless.

Have a pleasant weekend and Shabbat Shalom,

Nir

Photo: Brothers