Parshas Vaykira Summary

 This Parasha contains the highest count of letters and words in sefer Vayikra. It comprises 6,222 Hebrew letters, 1,673 Hebrew words, 111 verses, and 215 lines. The narrative involves God summoning Moshe from the Tabernacle to convey the laws of sacrifices. Burnt offerings, known as "Olah," could range from bulls, rams, and male goats to turtledoves or pigeons, all of which the Kohen would incinerate entirely on wood at the temple altar. Additionally, meal offerings, known as "Minchah," comprised choice flour with oil, with the priests extracting a symbolic portion for burning on the altar while retaining the remainder for consumption. These offerings were to be unleavened, unseasoned with honey, but required to be salted. Meal offerings of first fruits necessitated new ears parched with fire and fresh grain grits. Sacrifices of well-being, referred to as "Shelamim," could involve male or female cattle, sheep, or goats, with the priests splashing blood on the altar's sides and burning specific fats on the altar. Sin offerings, designated as "Chatas," were prescribed for inadvertent sins by the High Priest, community, chieftain, or lay person. The process involved sacrificing specific animals, blood rituals within the Tent of Meeting, and burning designated fats on the altar. The Parsha also detailed the requisite sin offerings for various scenarios encompassing touching unclean objects, human uncleanness, and unfulfilled oaths. Confession and specific sacrificial procedures were mandated for atonement, including offerings of female sheep, goats, turtledoves, pigeons, or flour, depending on one's financial capacity. Guilt offerings (אָשָׁם‎, asham) were obligatory in instances where an individual unknowingly neglected any sacred entity. In such circumstances, the individual was required to offer a ram as a sacrifice and provide restitution and an additional 20 percent to the priest. Similarly, guilt offerings were mandated when an individual engaged in dishonest practices related to a deposit or a pledge, whether through theft, deceit or falsely claiming a lost item. In these scenarios, the individual had to offer a ram as a sacrifice and provide restitution and an additional 20 percent to the affected party.