Thought of the Week: Vayikra - 5772

THE PROHIBITION AGAINST HONEY

    "Every grain offering you bring to Hashem must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in an offering made to Hashem."-Vayikra 2:11 

    When bringing a meal offering in the Beit HaMikdash, the Torah strictly forbids adding honey to the mix.  Similarly, the Torah forbids us to use yeast in our offerings all-year-round.  For the most part, all flour offerings were kosher le'Pesach.

    The Sefer HaChinuch explains that sin is rooted in one of two faults: laziness and desire.  The prohibition against yeast alludes to the sinner who, if he desires to repent, must acquire the trait of zerizus - enthusiasm and eagerness - unlike leaven, which only occurs when dough is left unattended to rise.

    The prohibition against honey hints to the sinner that sin is also rooted in an uncontrolled preoccupation with satisfying one's desires.  The individual doing teshuvah must recognize that learning to "saddle the sweet tooth" is also a critical ingredient in the recipe for teshuvah. 

Shabbat Shalom