The Parve Baker

Tsav

Out of this he shall offer one of each kind as a gift to the Lord; it shall go to the priest who dashes the blood of the offering of peace.  - Leviticus 7:14

Samson Raphael Hirsh explains that shaleym is the state in which no component of a person detracts from any of the others. Instead, each is complemented in and through the others. The peace or well-being offering (shelamim), is the symbolic expression of completeness that we feel when we lack nothing at all. When we are in a state of being “at peace,” we want to draw near to God. The Torah provides detailed instructions for selecting and sacrificing a cow or goat for this purpose, including avoidance of eating the animal’s blood, its nefesh or life-force (Deut. 12:23), and its hard fat, which is reserved for God.

The thanksgiving offering (todah) is a special type of peace offering made to restore an individual’s state of peace that has been disturbed. All of the requirements applicable to the peace offering also apply here. In addition, the person bringing the offering to the ritual specialist must provide unleavened cakes with oil mixed in, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of choice flour with oil mixed in, well soaked. This offering, with cakes of leavened bread added, one shall offer along with [the] thanksgiving offer of well-being (Lev. 7:13).

The restoration of completeness is represented by the presence of not one, but the full array of cakes, wafers, and bread associated with holiness through their use in rituals designed to bring individuals and the Israelites as a whole closer to God’s presence in the world.

With our baking of all kinds, may we bring peace into world and draw God’s presence closer to one and all.