Day 162

Day 164

Negative Mitzvah 124: We are forbidden to bake the meal-offering with leaven
Leviticus 6:10 "It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it to them for their portion of My offerings made by fire"

This Negative Mitzvah refers to the portion of the meal-offering that is given to the priests to eat.

The priest scoops up part of the mixture (in a special way) and offers it on the altar. The remainder is eaten by the priests themselves. This portion may not be baked as leavened bread (Chametz).

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Positive Mitzvah 88: The Priests' Eating Portions of the Meal Offering
Leviticus 6:9 "And the remainder of it, Aaron and his sons shall eat with unleavened bread"

The Torah commands the priest and his family to eat the remaining meal that was not burnt on the altar. Eating from these sacrifices grants the priests a special closeness to HaShem each day.

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Positive Mitzvah 83: Fulfilling Sacrificial Obligations on Time
Deuteronomy 12:5-6 "And you shall come (to that place) and there, you shall bring your burnt offerings"

Often, your mother cannot go out each time she remembers something she has to buy. She makes a list and does all her shopping when the opportunity arises.

Various occasions and situations obligate a Jew to bring sacrifices to the Beit HaMikdash.

Some people may postpone their trip to Jerusalem because they are unable to travel at that specific time.

The Torah commands us to fulfill those obligations which we have not yet met on the first upcoming holiday: Pesach, Shavuot or Sukkot.

However, it is forbidden to postpone the offering for more than three festivals (See also Negative Mitzvah 155).

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Negative Mitzvah 155: We are forbidden to delay the fulfillment of a promise to bring an offering to HaShem
Deuteronomy 23:22. "When you vow a vow to the L-rd your G-d do not be late in paying it"

When Debby arrived at Mimi's birthday party, she suddenly realized that she had completely forgotten to bring a present.

Quietly, she went over to Mimi and asked to speak to her in private.

"I'm so embarrassed, Mimi," Debby blurted out. "I forgot to get you a present. I promise, I'll bring you a gift tomorrow!"

"Oh, Debby!" Mimi said with a smile. "I don't care about the present. It really doesn't matter. I'm glad you came to the party. Forget about the present!"

Debby had a good time at the party but she couldn't forget about the present. She begged her mother to take her to the store that evening so she could keep her promise to Mimi and give her a gift the next day.

When we make a promise to someone, we try to keep it.

It's quite an unpleasant feeling to know that you owe something to someone.

The same is true when we make a promise to HaShem.

Surely, we must not delay and put off fulfilling our promises.

The Torah sets the latest date to do this.

This Negative Mitzvah cautions us not to be late in bringing those offerings that we have promised to bring to the Beit HaMikdash and offer as sacrifices.

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Great things are not what is demanded from our generation. The previous generations did all that for us. We need only do the small things -- but in a more difficult time. For us, self sacrifice could mean nothing more than a simple change of habit.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com

Day 162

Day 164