Vayikra

The five books of Miriam

Sacrifice comes from the Latin word for "to make sacred". This is
different than the Hebrew word used in this parsha, korban, which is
often translated as sacrifice, but is really from the root for "to
draw near". The difference between the two says a lot about what it
means to give a sacrifice. It is not about giving something up in
hopes of appeasing or currying favor with G-d; it's not about making
yourself more sacred or making anything more sacred.

It's about restoring spiritual equilibrium. When we sin against HaShem
or against our neighbor, we've upset the balance created by Jewish
law. When we make korban, we publically acknowledge that we have done
wrong. It is part of the way we set things right again, along with
restitution. When we follow the ritual, we no longer have to carry our
guilt or shame along with us. They're dealt with and given over to
HaShem.

Several types of sacrifices: olah, burnt offering (animal); minhah,
meal offering (flour & oil, some burnt, some for priests); zevakh
shelamim, well-being/peace offering (animal, parts burnt, parts eaten
by family and priests); hattat, purification/sin offering (animal, fat
burnt, sometimes parts eaten by priests, sometimes blood sprinkled on
altar and animal burnt outside camp); asham, guilt offering (goat that
was sacrificed after restitution and fines paid).

Nicole