Devar/5771/Acharei-mot
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עברית
English
And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices unto the satyrs, after whom they go astray. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations (Lev 17:7)
In parallel the Torah commands us to send one goat to Azazel and to slaughter another one: And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for Azazel (Lev 16:8). On the one hand, it commands us to sacrifice a goat and to send another to Azazel, and on the other hand it forbids us to sacrifice to the "satyrs" (the word is "goat" in Hebrew). Is this not a contradiction?
There is no contradiction. According to the Rambam's understanding in the Guide to the Perplexed, the sacrificial service came to wean the public from idolatry. In order to do that, it was necessary to give the people a form of service which was similar to that with which they were familiar. Also, since they were sacrificing "to the satyrs" -- as if the goats had the power to benefit or do ill -- the Torah commanded we sacrifice the goats. That is, the Creator is the only God, and He alone has godly power.
The Gemara (Yoma 67b) states: Our sages taught: (Lev 18) "Perform my laws" -- this refers to those things which had they not been written, it would have been natural for them to have been written. They are: (the prohibition of) idolatry, immoral sexual relations, murder, robbery and blasphemy. "And my statutes keep" -- this refers to those things regarding which the evil inclination tempts one, and which the nations of the world scoff at. They are: eating pork, wearing mixed fabric, levirate marriage, purification of the leper and the sending of the goat (to Azazel). Lest you say these are pointless matters, learn from this (Lev 18) "I am the LORD". I am the LORD, I enacted the laws and you have no authority to question them.
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