EASTER BLOOD IS NEEDED FOR SALVATION

IS EASTER BLOOD IS NEEDED FOR SALVATION?

Hugh Fogelman

Christian theologians and missionaries claim that without belief in Jesus, mankind has neither salvation from sin nor a personal relationship with God. Specifically with regard to Jews, Christians argue that Jews have always needed animal blood sacrifices to rid themselves of sin.

Since sacrifices were abolished after the destruction of the Second Temple, badly informed Christians, not having a clue of what is written in the Hebrew Bible (the SOURCE DOCUMENT). In ignorance they falsely claim that today Jews can find salvation from sin only by believing in Jesus, who “died on the cross and shed his blood as some sort of human sacrifice.”

This concept, born of ignorance, for the Christian seeking truth poses several problems.

1. Christianity’s “final sacrifice” concept implies that Jesus was a human sacrifice. Everyone, except for Christians, knows that human sacrifice is an abomination to God.

2. The Christian claim that Jesus was a sacrifice places him on the same level as a goat or a female lamb that was used for unintentional sins. Male lambs were never used.

3. An animal sacrifice had to be without blemish of any kind.

4. An animal sacrifice had to be performed on the Temple alter, and

5. The sacrifice had to be performed by the Priest.

NONE OF THESE APPLIED TO JESUS! But hey, who is keeping score, especially when the unknown authors of the Christian Bible, at unknown times saw fit to change all of God’s rules?

Rabbi Yaakov Menken wrote: “If we are going to discuss the korbanos, the sacrifices, we need to dispel misconceptions having to do with primitive practices and some idea of a god that is “hungry” or “thirsty for blood.” None of these, fortunately, resemble what you find in the Torah.

The Torah uses the Hebrew word “korban” which is translated into “sacrifice” or “offering.” Rabbi Shamshon Rephael Hirsch regrets the absence of a better German translation―a complaint equally applicable to English. A korban, he writes, neither involves giving up something of value as implied by “sacrifice,” nor is it a gift as implied by “offering.”

The root of the word korban is “karov,” a Hebrew word meaning to approach, to come close. A person is “MaKriv” (bringing close) a korban. He doesn't “sacrifice” it or “offer” it, he brings it close. This is not just a matter of semantics. “The MaKriv,” says Rabbi Hirsch, “desires that something of himself should come into closer relationship with G-d.”

Christians mistakenly believe that a korban or offering was simply for expiation of sin. In the Torah itself, however, most korbanos are NOT associated with transgressions, and the exceptions are mostly inadvertent acts. For the vast majority of deliberate violations, the Torah does not describe any offering to be used as part of an atonement process.

There are many different types of offerings, involving every sort of property a person might have; not only animals, but flour, wine, water and salt were all placed on the altar. Also, one sanctified his first fruits, could donate property whether moveable or land, and gave money as well. All of this is in addition to the foods destined for the Cohanim (priests), Levi'im, the poor, and for the needs of the festivals in Jerusalem.

Never in Torah is there any notion of G-d “eating” a korban. They are called a “re'ach nikhoach,” which could be translated “pleasing smell,” but “re'ach” can mean a spiritual uplift as well. There is certainly no physical benefit or need fulfilled. The idea of a korban is that it is pleasing to G-d when we express a desire to make ourselves godly at the
expense of our physicality. This can be expressed in our deeds, in our charity, and, yes, in the korbanos.

The “elevation offering,” was consumed in its entirety on the Altar. It could come in the form of a cow, sheep, goat, or even bird; depending upon the individual. The Torah teaches us that while a wealthy person might bring an expensive offering of a cow, the poor man could come with a single dove and demonstrate the same desire for attachment to the Divine. In fact, one could bring an offering of mere flour as well!

Next are the Shelamim, or peace offering, followed by the Chatas for inadvertent sins. There are actually four different varieties of Chatas, depending upon whether the transgression was made by the High Priest, the King, the nation as a whole (based upon an erroneous ruling from the High Court, the Sanhedrin), or by an individual.

Most of the world's religions declare their founder or leader to be Divinity embodied, or, at least, free from sin or error. The Torah not only expects even High Priests and Kings to sin, but allows for errors from the High Court that impact upon the entire nation. There's no infallibility doctrine, nothing miraculous about the leaders of God’s Chosen. Jews follow the Sanhedrin because G-d told them to do so, not because they attribute divinity to the Rabbis within.

Look how many lessons we've found in just the first portion of Vayikra (Leviticus 1-5), and we've barely scratched the surface! The Talmud says about Torah, “Delve into it, and delve into it some more, for everything is in it.” Isn’t it time for Christians to learn what God actually said? Or, are they simply content to continue in blind faith ignorance; serving no one, not even themselves.

RETURN