Shalom my friends, this is Simcha Hochbaum standing outside the Tomb of Jesse and Ruth here in the biblical city of Hebron.
This Shabbat in Parshat Yayikra we’re entering a new world. A world of the Holy Temple, a world of sacrifices, a world of the alters. And a world where the Jewish nation is learning the concept of sacrificing and giving of themselves to Hashem.
We read about many different types of categories of sacrifices. Some are the sin offerings, some are for just getting close to Hashem. Some to abolish evil decrees, Some to feel love and connection.
But there is a group of sacrifices called kodshei kodashim. And all those sacrifices have to be slaughtered specifically on the northern side.
We all know that there’s a prophecy in the book of Jeremiah מצפון תפתח הרעה “from the north evil will come out.”
It started with the Babylonians destroying the First Temple, then the Assyrians from the north, and over all the years Israel has been fighting so many battles in the north.
Forty years of threats from Lebanon, from Iran. Israel is once again trying to offset that evil prophecy and that decree of “from the north evil will come out.”
By slaughtering the animal sacrifice, specifically on the northern side, and being able to sprinkle its blood to bring atonement in the nullification of all the evil and harsh decrees.
Today is Rosh Hodesh Nisan. We’re entering a new era of redemption, going from the redemption of Purim to the redemption of Pesach.
And somehow or another, it looks like God is preparing a new redemption, a brand new redemption for the Jewish nation, the Jewish people.
Redemption of the Third Temple, redemption of the fifth Cup.
“I will bring you to the Holy Land” and then once again the Jewish nation will be able to rejoice in the Third Temple, with security and with peace and My house shall become a house of prayer for the nations of the world.
Hodesh Tov, Shabbat Shalom.
