Parshas Acharei Mos – Kedoshim
Be An Influencer!
“He shall take, from the congregation of Israel two he-goats for sin-offerings and one ram for a burnt-offering.” (Vayikra 16:5)
Rabbi Paysach Krohn tells a story about an unaffiliated Jew from Dallas, Texas. While visiting Israel he decided to visit the “Western Wall”, for the very first time. When he arrived, he noticed a Yerushalmi Jew davening to Hashem with great intensity and emotion. That sight inspired him. When he returned home to Dallas, he searched for a rabbi. He gave the rabbi a very nice donation for his shul. One thing led to another, and this man became religious and became instrumental in building a new shul. As Rabbi Krohn puts it, after 120 years, when the Jew from Jerusalem will pass away, he will be shown myriads of mitzvos that will be credited to him. When he says that he did not do any of those mitzvos, he will be told that since he inspired the Jew from Texas, albeit without even realizing, all the mitzvos that the Jew did will be credited to both of them. The one who does the mitzvah and the one who inspired him both receive rewards.
Aharon, the Kohen, brought korbanos for himself, for the Kohanim and for all Klal Yisrael. One of the korbanos that was brought consisted of two goats. One of the goats was sacrificed on the mizbayach (altar) as a sin offering on behalf of the entire Jewish People. Aharon placed all the sins of Bnei Yisroel onto the second goat. What was done with that second goat? The Rashbam says that the simple explanation is that it was sent alive into the desert to find grazing together with other goats who were in the desert. The Mizrachi explains it as the Talmud (Yoma 67B) says, that the second goat was pushed off a cliff to its death. The Talmud says that although we do not understand the reason for this and we do not understand how this procedure brought atonement for our sins, Hashem decreed it and we have no right to question it.
The Torah (Vayikra 16:5) calls both of those goats korban chatas, sin-offerings. The sefer Shemen HaTov (quoted by Rabbi Yissachor Frand on Torah.org) asks why the second goat is called a korban chatas, a sin-offering, when, in fact, it is not brought as such. A chatas offering has very specific halachos. The second goat was not shechted by a Kohen, it was not brought on the mizbayach, and its blood was not sprinkled. It was thrown down a mountainous cliff! If that is so, why does the Torah call it a chatas offering, as it says “take two he-goats for a chatas“?
The Shemen HaTov suggests an answer which teaches us a beautiful idea. The Talmud says that the two goats were twins. They needed to be identical in height, weight, and appearance. The Kohain Gadol then drew lots to determine which goat would be sacrificed on the mizbayach and which one would be sent away. This procedure of drawing lots to determine the fate of each was essential. The only way one of the goats could become a korban chatas was by having the other one present and going through the lottery process to designate one as a korban chatas. Thus, since the sair l’Azazel, the goat that was sent away, enabled and facilitated the other goat to become a korban chatas, it too was called a korban chatas.
This teaches a beautiful lesson. When you facilitate something good to take place, then you are given the same status as those who did the acts. For example, if you enable someone else to learn Torah, then it is considered as if you are learning Torah. That is like the famous Yissocher-Zevulun partnership. The Torah says, “…Rejoice Zevulun in your excursions, and Yissocher in your tents.” (Devarim 33:18). The rabbis say that the Torah not only gave equal status but actually gave primary status to Zevulun because he enabled Yissocher to be able to learn. Someone who enables another person to fulfill a mitzvah receives the same reward and status as the one who did the mitzvah!
Wow! If you inspire someone to do mitzvos you also get credit for those mitzvos! If you encourage others to say brachos, visit the sick, or give tzedakah, just to name a few, and/or if you encourage someone to become more religious, you are also credited for those mitzvos that he does. If he, in turn, influences his children to do mitzvos, you also get credited for their mitzvos. You can be credited with mitzvos done by all this person’s future generations!!
Always act in a noble fashion the way a Jew should!
Always create a kiddush Hashem. That will inspire others!
And, if you can, also actively REACH OUT AND INSPIRE SOMEONE!
