Vayikra: hidden

One of the categories of offerings discussed in the parsha is the Asham. This is often translated as the guilt offering. But I think that the English pseudo-cognate, ashamed, is more appropriate.
One of the properties of the offense for which the Asham is offered is that it is hidden- The testimony not given, the oath not fulfilled, the fraud Hiding is related to shame. When Adam recognizes his nakedness, he is ashamed and he hides. The word Asham hides the word aish, fire. The fact that the fat of the animal or the grain can burn is a secret, something that only those familiar with fire can predict. The expiation of the offering comes from revealing its hidden property.... it burns.The blood that is sprinkled from the offering is also a secret stuff, Only after cutting the animal does one experience the silent (dome) blood ( dam)

The nature of some of the offerings seems an open secret. The sin offering for the high Priest, the descendant of Aaron (maker of the golden calf) who errs is a ...bull, the grown calf. Similarly when the people as a whole err ( as they did with the golden calf) the expiation is with a ...matured calf. When the political leader, who is generally not from a tribe of Joseph ( despite Joseph’s favored status with Jacob) errs, he brings a goat, the animal that the brothers brought to prove the “death” of Joseph to Jacob. It is a reminder of the vagaries of politics.

In Heaven all secrets are revealed. Is Heaven hell?

past years