Daf Yomi, Marriage Counseling, Psychotherapy, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Torah and Psychology
Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes an interesting scenario. It is considered a requirement to choose a sacrificial animal that is fitting and honorable, and not scrawny. This is based on a verse in Malachi (1:8): “Offer such an offering even to a governor, and would he accept it?” Yet assuming the animal is reasonably fit, it would not be invalid. Still, if it is scrawny relative to another animal that can be obtained, it is wrong to bring the inferior one.
On Shabbos, public sacrifices are slaughtered and burned on the altar just as during the week. The scenario the Gemara discusses is: what if the person had both a fatter, choice lamb and a thinner, not-choice lamb in front of him, and he slaughtered the inferior one. The Gemara rules that even though it is Shabbos, he should still slaughter the superior one (despite post facto having an albeit thinner but potentially valid sacrifice).
In Shu”t Shevus Yaakov (I:37) someone asked: He has a minhag to light Chanukah candles with olive oil, but one day he was not able to procure it, so he set up candles. Just when he was about to light the candles, someone brought him olive oil. The question was: should he stay with the candles so as not pass over the mitzvah since they were already set up, or is the hiddur of olive oil worth the switch, even though there is some disrespect to the candles that were set for the mitzvah?
He rules that one should not pass over the candles once they are set for the mitzvah.
However, the Chacham Tzvi (45) disagrees, and brings a proof from our Gemara above. He says we see that we even override Shabbos to do a mitzvah in a superior fashion.
Others disagree with this proof because in our Gemara both animals were in front of him. Others also add that olive oil is a refinement to the mitzvah (true olive oil reminds us about, and honors the miracle more) but not an actual component of the mitzvah. However, part and parcel of the mitzvah of sacrifice is to choose the finest. That is not an add-on or upgrade; it is built into the mitzvah, and therefore one can slaughter the second, superior animal on Shabbos.
However one decides the halacha, it is impressive to see how much respect one should show for a mitzvah. These were serious shaalos.
There was a sensitive person I used to see in Shul every Shabbos. One time he was using a siddur that was torn and had coffee spills on it. I decided to bring him a nicer siddur, and he declined, stating: “I feel bad putting back the siddur I took out; it is like hurting its feelings.”
Wow!
We have within our tradition such models for behavior, such as Moshe, who would not hit the water or other material that saved his life as an infant (see Rashi Shemos 7:19).
Of course, such a code of honor and hierarchy should ideally generate respect and empathy for human beings as well.
Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation
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Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, LMFT, DHL is a psychotherapist who works with high conflict couples and families. He can be reached via email at simchafeuerman@gmail.com