Parashat: Vayikra

Parashat: Vayikra
Torah Reading: Leviticus 1:1–5:26

“When a person unwittingly incurs guilt in regard to any of the Eternal’s Commandments…” Leviticus 4:2

“If it is the anointed priest…” Leviticus 4:3

“If it is the community leadership of Israel…” Leviticus 4:13

“In the case it is a chieftain…” Leviticus 4:22

The first parsha of Leviticus, Vayikra, contains the basis for the sacrificial system that served as the core of worship for the Israelites and eventually, Jews in the period of the first and second Temples. Chapter 4 focuses in on the sacrifices to be brought if someone unintentionally violated a commandment. Instead of starting with the people in general, however, it begins with the top leader of the sacrificial cult — the High Priest, followed by the community leadership, and then the chieftains of tribes and clans. It is an important statement of the responsibility those in power have to follow the laws of the land. The leadership are not exempt from any of it, and in fact, if they unintentionally violate the commandments, they are responsible for making their sacrifice larger and more public than any of the common people. It is because they are leaders and hold positions of authority and responsibility that they must do more to atone for their misdeed. The Torah understood that leadership is not a privilege, it is a responsibility and therefore we expect our leaders to not only be held to the same standard as the people, but to an even higher standard.

— Rabbi Daniel Plotkin