Getting closer

Many people find the idea of sacrifices puzzling. After all, doesn’t Judaism teach that G-d is beyond physical needs? He doesn’t eat, He doesn’t require gifts, and certainly, we cannot “bribe” Him with offerings. Yet, in this week’s Torah portion, we see that G-d not only accepts sacrifices but also lays out detailed instructions for how they should be brought. It almost seems as if He wants them!

The answer lies in the Hebrew word for sacrifice: korban. While often translated as “offering” or “sacrifice,” korban actually means “to draw close.” This is the key to understanding why sacrifices were such an important part of Jewish life in the times of the Temple.

We often assume that sacrifices were only about atoning for sins, a way to make things right after a person did something wrong. But in reality, the first type of sacrifices mentioned in this Torah portion are voluntary offerings. These were brought by individuals not because they had sinned, but because they felt a deep desire to connect with G-d. They wanted to express their gratitude, their devotion, and their longing to be closer to their Creator.

Of course, there were also sin-offerings. These were brought when someone made a mistake and wanted to return to G-d. But the existence of sin-offerings actually tells us something deeper: G-d doesn’t only invite the righteous to come close to Him. He wants everyone—even those who have stumbled—to return and reconnect. In other words, korbanot were never just about making up for wrongdoing; they were about creating a path for every Jew to build a stronger bond with G-d.

But what about today? We no longer have a Temple in Jerusalem, where these sacrifices were brought. Does that mean we have lost our ability to draw close to G-d in the same way?

Not at all! Our sages teach that there are three main ways we can achieve the closeness that korbanot once provided:

Studying the Torah – Especially the parts that discuss the sacrifices. The Talmud tells us that when we study the details of the korbanot, it is as if we have brought them ourselves. This means that even without a Temple, learning about these mitzvahs connects us deeply to G-d.

Prayer – Our daily prayers were designed to take the place of the sacrifices. In fact, the morning, afternoon, and evening services correspond to the times when different offerings were brought in the Temple. Just as a korban was a heartfelt expression of devotion, our prayers are an opportunity to speak to G-d, share our thoughts, and strengthen our relationship with Him.

Acts of Kindness – When we give charity, help others, and treat people with compassion, we are fulfilling the true purpose of korbanot: coming closer to G-d by bringing holiness into the world.

The lesson of korbanot is as relevant today as it was in the times of the Torah. G-d is not distant; He invites us to come closer to Him at every moment. Whether through learning, praying, or acts of goodness, every one of us has the ability to draw near to Him. And just as in the days of the Temple, G-d welcomes not only the perfect but also those who have made mistakes. He is always ready for us to return.