Vayikra 5768: Where is G-d?

Where is G-d in our lives and in our worship? The opening of our parasha says that a person can come close to G-d by coming before G-d, lifnei hashem in the holy temple to offer a sacrifice, to get close to G-d, ki yakriv. The word for sacrifice is yakriv, will sacrifice, but literally it means will come close. An act of sacrifice is an act of getting close to G-d.

The rabbis in the Talmud say that prayer is instead of sacrifice. In prayer, too, we stand before G-d. We are always in G-d’s presence, but in prayer we are as if we are right there in front of G-d at his throne. In the words of the rambam, when we pray it should be as if we are standing in front of the divine presence, omed lifnei hashechinah.

There are other ways in which G-d can be found in our lives. The Sfat Emet says that the verse in Proverbs which says that G-d has given us a good gift, this refers to the torah, a lekach tov, it is such a good buy that we get, because with every mitzvah comes the Divine presence, with every act of studying the torah we get divine presence with it.

Doing the divine will, the torah, brings with it the presence of G-d. Coming to shul, visiting the sick, having guests who need a place to be for a seder or Shabbat, eating the matzah and the maror, this all brings G-d with it.

There are three ways we find G-d in life; we find Him in torah, which is his biography, in nature which is G-d’s signature, and in history, which has his imprint. Where is G-d in our lives? He is in history, he is found in nature, he is to be found in my carrying out his will doing mitzvoth. He is found in prayer, he is found in torah study. We can get close to G-d.