Sacrifices, purity, priestly vestments, rituals related to sacrifice, these are just some of the things that this week's Torah portion, Vayikra, the third book of the Torah, teaches us. Some refer to Vayikra as Torat Kohanim - the Priestly Laws Torah, as the book deals with many of the intricacies of sacrifice and purity.

Why focus on all of these rituals and actions that have little applicability to our lives today, in 2011?

The rabbis consider this question and offer a beautiful and simple teaching: If Priests cannot be bound to laws that ensure we are pure and clean with ourselves and the way in which we handle sacrifices is not correct and exact, how can we expect others to be pure, clean and follow commandments exactly. In short, behavior trickles down. If we behave positively, the masses could and should follow. If we behave corruptly, the masses could do the same.

A few months ago, Dr. Michael Osit, a renowned child psychologist, told the story of a mother that was frustrated that her child was constantly playing with a hand held gaming system. "Stop" she yelled to him. "Put it down and focus on me, the Doctor and others around you!" she screamed at the kid. Then the mother picked up her blackberry and began texting away.

Osit's point was that this child was demonstrating learned behavior, not necessarily attention deficit behavior. These lessons trickle down.

If indeed, the way we behave, model and set systems up for others to follow matters, then the lesson the book of Vayikra lays out before us is essential; to behave in the clean and proper way - for God and for others to follow and make the right and positive example. It trickles down and makes a difference for all of us.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi David-Set Kirshner

Did you know this

about Israel..... 

Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.