ECHAREI Part 6

Shalom, Shalom. We continue with our focus on the PARASHAT ACHAREI by placing our ATTENTION on the following passage found in the SIDRAH, it is written, “For the SOUL of the flesh is in the blood and I have assigned it for you upon the ALTAR to provide atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that atones for the SOUL.” (Leviticus 17:11) In this passage of TORAH, it is disclosed that the BLOOD ATONES FOR THE SOUL. The question is, “Is this statement INDICATIVE of the CONCEPT that G-d is, APPEASED by the SHEDDING of BLOOD in order to provide ATONEMENT?”

The chapter opens up by the presentation of INSTRUCTIONS from HASHEM on services that are OUTSIDE the TABERNACLE. The INSTRUCTIONS reveal that the ANIMALS that have been CONSECRATED as an OFFERING to HASHEM must be brought to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before slaughtering within or without the camp. The violation of this MITZVAH (command) results in being charged with BLOODSHED. The penalty is to be cut off from the midst of BENEI YISRAEL. The sages interpret this to mean that the life span would be cut short yet the individual will still have a place in the world to come. These instructions on how to deal with a CONSECRATED ANIMAL segue ways into INSTRUCTIONS concerning the CONSUMING of BLOOD and how it effects ATONEMENT. Without a doubt, TORAH is relating these two CONCEPTS, that is, CONSECRATED ANIMALS and BLOOD for ATONEMENT.

The NAVI Isaiah was given a prophetic word that BLOOD was not a requirement in order to APPEASE G-d when seeking ATONEMENT, he wrote, “Why do I need your numerous sacrifices? says HASHEM. I am sated with elevation-offerings of rams and the fat of fatlings; the BLOOD of bulls, sheep and goats I do not desire.”(Isaiah 1:11) In this prophetic utterance, it is disclosed that the BLOOD of ANIMALS does not APPEASE G-d in the pursuit of ATONEMENT. This is not to IMPLY that G-d desires the BLOOD of a human to APPEASE G-D in the PURSUIT of ATONEMENT. In the AKEIDAH, that is, the BINDING of ISAAC on the ALTAR, AVRAHAM was prevented from sacrificing his SON, that is, shedding his BLOOD and SUPERNATURALLY PROVIDED  with a RAM. Thus the question remains, What is implied by the CONCEPT of SHEDDING BLOOD for providing AT-ONE-MENT.

The sages have declared that BLOOD is indicative of LIFE. Thus the shedding of BLOOD in the SERVICE of G-d is a revelation of a LIFE that is TOTALLY DEDICATED to ECHAD. This discloses that a LIFE that is TOTALLY DEDICATED to ECHAD is empowered to provide ATONEMENT. It is no small wonder that the KOHEN GADOL was instructed to provide ATONEMENT for HIMSELF, HIS MISHPACHAH and BENEI YISRAEL. His CHAI (life) was TOTALLY DEDICATED to ECHAD, yea, a life that is TOTALLY DEDICATED to G-d is indeed ONE with HIM. In other words, a CONSCIOUS UNION with PURE SOUL CONSCIOUSNESS is expressed as TOTAL DEDICATION to ECHAD. Those who have achieved this ASCENSION into a CONSCIOUS UNION with PURE SOUL CONSCIOUSNESS are able to BESTOW it on others who are willing to RECEIVE. This potential to BESTOW is the result of ASCENSION out of the CONSCIOUSNESS of the CREATURE, which is DESIRE, into the CONSCIOUSNESS of the CREATOR, which is to BESTOWAL. Indeed this is what is IMPLIED by, the BLOOD ATONES for the SOUL, yea, it is indicative of a CHAI totally dedicated to ECHAD giving rise to the experience of ATONEMENT.