We often think of the big communal sacrifices, the ones everyone brings together. But what about all the other offerings? The smaller ones, the personal vows, the little gifts we want to give to the Divine? Are those part of the celebration too?
Well, the Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, dives right into this question. You might assume, at first glance, that only the specific sacrifices ordained for the festival itself are the ones that matter. Makes sense. But hold on...
The text asks, “Whence are derived for inclusion communal offerings, and individual offerings dedicated before the festival and on the festival itself?” In other words, where do we learn that all these offerings are included in the festival celebration, not just the main ones?
The answer comes directly from the Torah, from Numbers 29:39, specifically: "aside from your gifts and aside from all your vows and aside from all your gift-offerings that you give to the L-rd." This little phrase opens up the floodgates! It includes everything! Even birds and meal-offerings, all these are sacrificed on the festival! Think of it like this: the festival isn't just about the big, prescribed rituals; it's about the totality of our devotion, expressed in all kinds of gifts.
Now, here's the kicker. You might think, "Okay, that's nice. We can offer these things if we want to." But is it optional? Is it just a suggestion? Nope. The text anticipates this objection. It emphasizes that the Torah goes on to say, “These shall you offer to the L-rd on your festivals."
But wait a minute. If these offerings were already permitted through the previous verse, why repeat it? The Sifrei Devarim is incredibly sharp in its reading here. If the Torah is repeating itself, there must be a very important reason. Its answer? To make them mandatory! To make it clear that all these offerings are to be sacrificed on the festival. It’s not just a good idea; it's part of the obligation.
So, what does this all mean for us? It means that celebrating a festival isn't just about going through the motions of the main rituals. It's about bringing our whole selves, with all our individual expressions of devotion, to the table. It's about recognizing that the Divine welcomes not just the grand gestures, but also the small, personal offerings of our hearts. It’s a powerful reminder that every act of devotion, big or small, contributes to the richness and completeness of the festival experience. What offerings, big or small, might we bring to our next festival?