Parashat Vayikra- “Reverse Marranos”
The Torah in Parashat Vayikra presents the basic laws of Korbanot, the sacrifices which were offered in the Bet Hamikdash. It introduces this section by stating, "Adam Ki Yakrib Mikem Korban" ("If a person among you offers a sacrifice…"). Rashi and other commentators note the Torah’s use of the word "Adam" ("person") in this context. The Torah uses this term, Rashi explains, to indicate that a person must bring a sacrifice the same way Adam brought a sacrifice. When Adam was created, the entire earth belonged to him; there were no other people in existence who could claim ownership over anything in the world. Therefore, when he brought a sacrifice, it was, by definition, offered from his own property. There was no possibility of Adam offering a stolen animal; there was nobody from whom he could steal. Similarly, a sacrifice must be brought from one’s own property to be valid. God has no interest in sacrificial offerings brought from stolen property. The ends do not justify the means. A person cannot justify dishonesty and corruption in business dealings by donating large amounts of his earnings to charity. We must give charity the way Adam brought his sacrifice – from property that is clearly and unquestionably our own, obtained though strictly legal and ethical means.
The allusion to Adam in this verse presents an additional lesson, as well. When Adam brought his sacrifice, he did so with wholehearted sincerity. There was nobody else in the world whom he could have been trying to impress through this act of religious devotion. He was obviously not putting on a show; after all, there were no spectators. This is how the Torah wanted Beneh Yisrael to bring sacrifices – and how we are to go about all areas of our religious observance. We should study Torah and perform Misvot out of a sincere desire to do the right thing, and not to show off in front of our peers and give an appearance of piety. God knows our true intentions, and He does not look kindly upon imposters. Even if we think we can fool our peers, we most certainly cannot fool the Almighty. The Torah therefore urges us to bring sacrifices like Adam – with pure, sincere intentions, and not for the sake of looking good and earning the respect of those around us.
A certain Rabbi once lamented the all-too-common phenomenon of "reverse Marranos." During the time of Spanish Inquisition, there were many Jews who dressed and outwardly acted like Christians in order to escape the Spanish authorities, but were strictly Torah observant in private. Today, unfortunately, there are many Jews who do just the opposite. Privately, at home, at work and during travel, they are lax in their Torah observance and ethical conduct. But in the synagogue and at community events, they suddenly dress and act religious to impress their friends and earn respect and admiration. This is certainly not the type of "sacrifice" that God wants. This kind of devotion is dishonest and fake. God wants our religious observance to be like the devotion of Adam, who had nobody to impress. We are to do what’s right for its own sake and under all circumstances, even in our private lives, without using religious observance as a way to score points with our friends.
