What is the mystical reason why an animal can't be sacrificed until eight days old?

by Rabbi Yossi Marcus

Library » Mitzvot » Holy Temple Mitzvot | Subscribe | What is RSS? PRINT EMAIL COMMENT The Torah (Lev. 22:27) says that “When an ox, sheep, or goat is born, it shall remain with its mother for seven days; from the eighth day and on it is fit for a fire-offering for G-d.” The inner meaning of this law is like this: “Mother” symbolizes the intellect, since the intellect “gives birth” to emotions. (When the intellect recognizes the virtue of a thing, it “gives birth” to an emotion of love for it.) The “animal,” the emotions of man, must be incubated by the “mother” (i.e., the intellect) for seven days—one for each of the seven emotions—before they are fit to be an offering for G-d. Source: Sichot Kodesh 5725, vol 1, p. 25. TAGS: sacrifice ADD A COMMENT Please email me when new comments are posted (you must be  logged in). RELATED CATEGORIES History » The Holy Temples » Holy Temple Mitzvot Email to a friend Post a comment cancel Loading...