Parshas Vayikrah: The paradox of the stolen Korban Olah

Vayikrah 2: Odom, a man, who will bring a sacrifice, (Perek 1, Posuk 2)

In Sefer Yeshayahu,(61-8) it states that Hashem hates a stolen animal that is brought to Him as an Olah sacrifice. The obvious question is why would Hashem hate a stolen Olah more than any other type of sacrifice? An Olah is different than all other sacrifices in that it is consumed in its entirety on the mizbeach. In the case of other sacrifices, part is burned on the mizbeach and part is eaten by the person bringing it.

One who steals an animal and brings it as a sacrifice other than an Olah, on some level can be understood. After all, a portion of it he will be able to eat. However an Olah offering offers him nothing, so what would be his incentive to steal an animal for an Oleh offering?

The inescapable conclusion must be that he “steals for Hashem.” He would like for Hashem to have an offering that he can’t afford, so he steals it. And this is why Hashem despises a stolen Olah. While Hashem certainly condemns all stealing, He can sympathize with someone whose yatzer horah gets the better of him. But stealing for Hashem is sacrilege. Don’t use Hashem as a cover for your evil deeds!

Someone who had recently taken a rabbinical position in a small community, came to the Chazon Ish with a question. This town already had an elderly rabbi who was not very active. Now, that Rav sent him a message that he has a “kpaido” on him for invading his territory. The new Rav continued to explain that he has revived the community and greatly enhanced their spiritual activities. He continued to rationalize that since he’s accomplishing so much for Hashem, perhaps for His sake he should not step aside despite the elderly rav’s protest.

The Chazon Ish told him that he must step aside. The young Rav protested that he knew of a similar case in which the Chazon Ish instructed a new Rav to stay. The Chazon Ish explained to him the difference in these two cases. He illustrated to the young rav that in the other case the man had framed his question selfishly. He made it clear to the Chazon Ish that he needed a job and that this new position had turned his life around. Upon hearing that, he told him that he could indeed keep his new job and that he did not have to sacrifice his future because of ruffled feathers.

The Chazon Ish continued to explain, “but you framed your question in altruistic terms, Hashem needs you to do His holy work in this town. So let me tell you, Hashem will manage just fine without you. He doesn’t want you to do His work at the expense of an elderly rav.”