14 May PARSHAS EMOR: HAVE NO REGRETS

Have No Regrets
When You Offer
Your Thanksgiving
Offering
In addition to the
mitzvos of the
Kehunah, this week’s Parsha contains
some of the mitzvos which pertain to
Korbonos. The pasuk [verse] states “If
you will bring a Thanksgiving Offering
to G-d, it shall be offered willingly”
[Vayikra 22:29]. Rash”i explains that
according to the simple interpretation
“l’rtzonchem” (willingly) means that it
should be “l’rtzon lachem” (acceptable
[to G-d] for you) — i.e. it should be
offered in accordance with ritual law
and not with improper intentions.
We will, however, interpret this
expression “al pi derech ha’drush
v’hashkafa” [in a homiletic manner].
Why is it that particularly regarding the
Korban Todah [Thanksgiving offering],
the Torah found it necessary to stress

that the offering should be brought
“willingly”?
The Kesav Sofer (son of the Chasam
Sofer) writes, that to understand this, we
must appreciate why and when a person
brings a Korban Todah. A Korban Todah
is exactly what the words mean — an
offering of Thanksgiving. The Talmud
tells us that even nowadays there are
four categories of people who must
express thanksgiving (through prayer).
For example, an ill person who became
well or a person who left jail to freedom
has to bring Korban Todah.
Consequently, we can understand that
when someone brings a Korban Todah it
might not be completely “willingly”.
The person may feel something less that
the fullest sense of thanks. The person
may perhaps think, why do I have to
bring a Korban Todah for having been
sick and then healed, better I should
have never been sick in the first place.
Given the option, wouldn’t one rather

never have been sick,
rather than have to
undergo a serious but
successful operation?
Therefore, the Torah tells
us — no! When we bring
a Korban Todah — after
having undergone the
circumstances that lead to
a Korban Todah — that
offering must be brought
with the fullest sense of
thanksgiving. A person
has to realize, as difficult as it may seem
at the time, that those circumstances —
the sicknesses and ordeals that he had to
live through — in some way or another
was what the Ribbono Shel Olam felt
was best for him in the total picture.
Because of that ordeal, he is now a
stronger person, a wiser person, a more
compassionate person. It will be a
Kapara [forgiveness — He will have to
atone less in the world to come.] For

some reason, in G-d’s Grand Plan, it
was best for him to be sick or be jailed
and then, later, redeemed.
Therefore, the Torah says that when you
offer a Korban Todah to G-d – – don’t
think “What did I need this for?”. On the
contrary, offer the Korban with the
greatest expressions of willingness, in
order that you should come to the
recognition that all that G-d does is for
the person’s benefit.