Do not make any meal offering that is sacrificed to G-d out of leavened dough; for no leaven and no honey shall be burned as a fire offering to G-d.(Lev. 2:11)
The inner meaning of leaven and honey is pride, which rises up, like the arrogance that inflates a person's heart. These are the judgmental qualities of small-mindedness, for "a child wants to be big, and a small person jumps to the lead." (Megilla 12b)
About this, the verse says, "…for no leaven and no honey shall be burned as a fire offering to G-d" - meaning, "Do not serve Him with arrogance; rather, with 'your first [fruit] offerings'" (Lev. 2:12). That is, only when you begin to draw close to G-d can it be done amidst haughtiness.
Afterward, do not offer it as a sweet fragrance on the Supernal altar, for G-d does not take pleasure in pride. "The proud in heart are all an abomination to G-d" (Proverbs 16:5), on which our Rabbis commented: "- even a little bit." (Sota 5a)
[Translated by Eliezer Shore.]
LOGIN
ASK THE RABBI
Comment
