Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Avraham Moeinzadeh
דבר ×ל ×‘× ×™ ישר×ל ו×מרת ××œ×™×”× ×יש ×›×™ ×™×¤×œ×™× × ×“×¨ בערכך × ×¤×©×•×ª לה’
Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: If a man articulates a vow to Hashem regarding a valuation of living being (Vayikra 27-1).
Sefer Vayikra starts with the laws of korbanot (sacrifices) and concludes with the laws of Arachim (valuations). The Midrash states that Hashem values Arachim more than offering one’s self as a Korban. It is also brought down that the Mitzvah of Arachim is the only Mitzvah for which the angels admire the Jews.
Harav Abba Tzvi Norman of Ner Israel asks in his Sefer Edrei Tzon, “What makes the Mitzvah of Arachim so special? To which he answers: Values of Arachim are determined based on the amount of ability a person has to grow, change and elevate himself. That is the reason why the value of Arachim reaches its peak between the ages of twenty and sixty; these are the years that a person can achieve the most.
Arachim symbolizes submission of every individual to Hashem in his own unique way, whereas sacrifices symbolize the general service of human beings to Hashem. This is what makes Arachim a unique Mitzvah. Although the angels were created to serve Hashem only, they are still not as great as humans because their task in serving Hashem is easy. They are programmed that way. Additionally, they always serve Hashem in the same fashion that was commanded of them. In contrast, humans go against their inclination as well as their own personal flavor in fulfilling the Mitzvot beyond what is generally commanded in the Torah.
Shabbat Shalom.