Embracing Flyover Torah
Years ago, a version of the Jewish Bible was published, edited to appeal to what was supposedly relevant to the modern faithful. The Book of Leviticus was completely redacted, save for the essence of chapter 19—the famous Holiness Code of ethical behavior, culminating in that iconic verse: Love your neighbor as yourself. It is the scriptural and literary analogy to the coastal arrogance of those who regard the middle of the country as “flyover” territory.
This week, we begin to read the Book of Leviticus, most of which provides an instruction manual for the primal priesthood. While a deep dive into an ancient sacrificial system that hasn’t existed for 2,000 years feels more like an anthropological exploration than a guideline for daily Jewish life, there remain some key insights to be gleaned from even the most alienating features of a process involving the “slicing, dicing, and barbecuing” animals for the Temple.
The Hebrew word for the animal and agricultural sacrifices our ancestors offered was korban. It is rooted in the Hebrew concept of “drawing near.” Thus, worship of any kind is less about satisfying the whims of a capricious deity and more about the inner transformation of the individual. When we pray, we are not merely approaching God as a Cosmic Vending Machine of Blessings. We are changed as we bring God closer to our lives and our hearts through the humbling perspective of service to others as tribute for God’s beneficence and grace.