In this week’s Parsha, the pasuk says, “Adam ki yakriv mikem karbon lashem – when a person from you offers a sacrifice to Hashem.” There is a question here: The Torah could have simply said Adam ki yakriv karbon lashem – when a person brings a sacrifice to Hashem. Why does the Torah use the extra word mikem – from you?
I heard from my father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita, that the Sfas Emes says that the ultimate sacrifice is not the offering that you’re giving to Hashem. What Hashem really wants is mikem – Hashem wants you. Hashem wants you more than animal sacrifices. The ultimate sacrifice that you can give Hashem is yourself. Hashem wants your sincerity, love, and conviction. What Hashem wants most is your heart. Hashem wants us to be the best we can possibly be! We must ask ourselves what we are doing for Hashem. Hashem wants our strengths, talents, and devotion. Adam ki akriv – when a person brings – mikem – from within him – That’s the deepest and most important sacrifice, more than any other korban or offering!
Over 100 years ago in Vienna, Austria, there was a young girl who had a beautiful voice. She was a great singer. However, she was a frum girl, and professional singing wasn’t really an option for her. One day, a famous agent heard about this girl’s incredible voice, and he offered her a very lucrative opportunity and career as a singer. The young star was thrilled, so she decided to discuss the matter with her parents. When her parents heard about the proposal, they decided that they would do all within their power, to not allow her to take this offer. They were afraid of what would happen to her and her Yiddishkeit. However, the young girl refused to listen to her parents. She decided that she wanted to accept the agent’s offer and sign a deal. She stubbornly planned on taking on the deal and becoming an opera singer.
Broken, the father took his daughter to Rav Yitzchok Meir, the Kapytshnitzer Rebbe, who was in Vienna at the time. The Rebbe looked at the young girl and asked her, “Why do you want this position so badly? The girl answered honestly: “It’s because of the fame that I will find. I will be known throughout the world.” The Rebbe closed his eyes, deep in thought, contemplating the aspirations the girl had just expressed.
After a few minutes, the Rebbe opened his eyes and said, “It is the dream of every young Jewish woman to be blessed with a child who will illuminate the world. I give you my promise that if you now sacrifice your chance at fame, there will come a time when you will be blessed with a child who will light up the world. He will become one of the greatest halachic authorities of his time. Your fame will come, but it will be through your son.” The young girl thought deeply about the magnanimous and unique promise the Rebbe had made to her. She was a fine Jewish girl, and after considering the offer, she accepted the Rebbe’s proposition. She decided to give up the deal.
Eventually, this girl got married and had a son named Shmuel. This Shmuel grew up to become the great Shevet Levi – Rav Shmuel Halevi Wosner zt”l one of the greatest Rabbis of his time! Why? Because his mother gave up for Hashem, she gave mikem – she gave from herself. She gave her talents to Hashem. She sacrificed her career! What Hashem wants most is us. Hashem wants our hearts, sincerity, and love. Hashem wants us to give from within. Let’s be the best we can be!
