Vayikra: relating

This weeks parsha describes  some of the core sacrificial rite, The olah (holocaust) offering, the shlomim (peace) offering, the chatos ( sin) offering, etc are described.  This is a section of the Torah that is alien to me.  Although through my study of talmud I have learned some of the details, the rules and regulations, of the sacrificial rite, it remains a little beyond the edge of my imagination. When I visualize the defecting, hard to control, strong, horned bull (not the docile steer that is slaughtered for meat ), drooling and snorting, as he is brought to the side of the altar. The carotid arteries are cut and blood spurts out in random directions.  Some of the blood is collected, sometimes it is applied to corners of one of the two altars, sometimes it sprayed toward ( or on) the embroidered curtain that shields the ark of the covenant- I try to imagine the cleanup that must follow. Manure needs to be shoveled away.  How did they get those blood stains out? Who populated the clean up crew? Did they wear blue uniforms like the pros in our day? 

The whole process is so foreign to the shabbat candles and kugel Judaism that is familiar to us. 

It should not be surprising that the sacrifical rite is unfamiliar.  It is a method for relating to Gd, an entity that can never be familiar The strange character  of this ritual  with it death and blood and mess, is a reminder that our world view is not the only possible way.  The sacrificial rite is a submission to a behavior, prescribed by Torah, that is difficult on many levels.  It was never routine. 

Among the offenses that require a chatoth or asham are fraud, withholding testimony... civil offenses, Gd is also offended when people are not honest with others or themselves. Gd knows the secrets of the heart. 

Don't mess with Gd