The Book of Leviticus, which we begin reading this week, is replete with laws pertaining to the Temple service. In fact, many refer to it as Torat Kohanim, the law of the priests, as it describes in detail the sacrifices and rites performed in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and Beit Hamikdash (the Holy Temple that stood in Jerusalem).
One of the interesting observations about the korbanot (sacrifices) is that sacrifices were offered from various items. Offerings included animals, flour, oil, wine, and even salt. In fact, the Torah commands that salt must accompany every offering.
In Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, we are taught that these offerings represent the Four Kingdoms in this world, namely the inanimate, plant, animal and human kingdoms. The person bringing the offering represents the human sphere of life, as the verse indicates, “When a man brings a sacrifice from you.” The Chassidic Rebbes teach that this means the person himself must “bring him/herself closer to G-d as part of the sacrifice.
But one of the other domains stands out. The Torah requires that salt be offered with every korban. Why was salt necessary for each and every sacrifice?
By offering a sacrifice the person was in effect consecrating to G-d the various elements of G-d’s creation. But the sacrifice was only accepted by G-d if the individual did so with a sincere heart. For a sin offering, proper repentance and regret was necessary. For a peace offering, a truly generous spirit and commitment to G-d’s Torah was essential.
And so every offering required the presence of salt. Salt represents the inanimate, the most ‘lowly’ manifestation of life. Its presence underscored the need for true humility to connect to G-d. If we are to really approach the Infinite, we must remember that human, animal and stone are all equally finite.
There are times when a heart of stone is the most moving.