This week we begin reading the book of Vayikra. The first half of this book is very sacrifice intensive, which makes it a little less accessible to those of us who are two thousand years removed from actually offering them. So, we improvise. We find all sorts of hints at ideas in the text which can be applied to our Temple-less lives. This week we will delve into the hidden ideas apparently embedded, encased and enfolded in the Hebrew word for ‘hidden’.

Here’s the verse: It (the KORBAN, ‘offering’) shall be slaughtered before God on the north (TZAFON) side of the altar, and Aharon’s sons, the priests, shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. (Vayikra 1:11)

For our purposes, the critical word in those instructions is ‘north’ or TZAFON. This term for the compass direction North also implies ‘hidden’ or ‘covered’, more about that anon.

This verse is very significant!

Why? You may ask. Because those of us who recite KORBANOT (the verses describing the daily offerings) everyday, read this verse, and it’s the only such verse in this week’s reading. 

The holy Ari Z”L explains: When we say this verse everyday with devotion it will be a SEGULA (‘precious promise’) to atone for all our sins, as if we have offered all the KORBANOT. All of our sins can be placed in three categories: Idolatry, promiscuity and violence (‘shedding blood’). All of these categories are hinted at in our........

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