Why Does the Torah Command Animal Sacrifices?

"Why were sacrifices offered in the past? Does Hashem need sacrifices? Doesn't this resemble idol worship with offerings?"
 

"Can you explain the notion of sacrifices in the Temple? Worshiping Hashem is a matter of the heart, prayer, repentance, and Torah study. So why slaughter and burn animals on the altar?"

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Greetings and blessings,
Judaism teaches us that the first to offer sacrifices were the sons of Adam - Cain and Abel. Noah also offered sacrifices, and he was the father of all humanity. Idol worshipers were cultures that lost the divine origin of the act of sacrificing and forgot to whom they should pray and from whom to ask forgiveness and salvation.

Today, sacrifices are immediately associated with idolatry and "primitive rituals." However, anyone who thinks seriously about it will realize that technically, sacrifices are no different from the slaughter where we eat the meat of the animal. Sheep are eaten anyway by humans and, in nature, by other animals (most sacrifices were consumed, so they are no different from the meat we eat today. The only difference is that we do not see the animals being slaughtered today). Sacrifice and slaughter are identical: in both cases, the animal is slaughtered, roasted over fire, and eaten. Offering a sacrifice is a kosher slaughter of an animal, but with a special purpose, which we will explain.

Judaism teaches us how to elevate even the lowly physical acts of this world and find divine intent and purpose in them. In this world, we are creatures with bodies that need food and drink. The uniqueness of Judaism compared to other religions is in commandments that elevate a person from within and through the material, not by denying it.
The Arabs have turned desires into the main thing, making spirituality secondary, while Christians and Buddhists abstained from the material, which led to apathy and even sin.
Judaism offers the middle path, the right way to use creation beneficially and not harmfully. Please see the example with the head of the yeshiva:
https://www.hidabroot.org/he/article/94819
For example, when a Jew blesses meat with intention and intends to thank the Creator through a mitzvah meal, the honor in this meal, and the gratitude for the enjoyment given by our Creator, there is spiritual elevation and closeness to Hashem. Similarly, there was special spiritual elevation in the commandment of sacrifices.

What is the purpose of the commandment of sacrifices?

First, it's important to emphasize the obvious, that Hashem does not need the sacrifices for Himself. The one who thinks that the sacrifice is meant to give some kind of "gift" to Hashem is making a big mistake, for Hashem is infinite, and the entire world is His; man cannot give Him anything. In the book of Samuel I (Chapter 15), the prophet tells King Saul: "Does Hashem delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying Hashem? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." Jeremiah (7:22) says in Hashem's name: "For I did not speak to your ancestors or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices when I brought them out of Egypt. Rather, I commanded them this: Listen to My voice."

Hashem indeed accepted burnt offerings and sacrifices from us, but He does not need them. It is man who needs them.

The sacrifices are a means to draw closer to Hashem, yet what Hashem desires most is the good heart of man, that man fulfills His will.

The prophets, of course, did not belittle sacrifices. The prophet Samuel spoke against sacrifices in a very specific context, related to Saul's sin of not listening to Hashem's voice. Isaiah and Jeremiah also spoke against a very specific group of wealthy people in their time who sinned and wronged widows and orphans, thinking everything could be forgiven with burnt offerings and sacrifices. You need to read the chapters in their context to understand their intention. The Torah explicitly requires sacrifices (burnt offerings, peace offerings, and others), and this was also the main purpose of the Temple - to atone for the people and sanctify them through sacrifices. The prophets, of course, greatly respected the Temple and recognized its status, only speaking against the wicked who used sacrifices as an excuse to continue sinning.

Yet, certainly, sacrifices had great importance. Sacrifices existed since the beginning of creation, even before it was permissible to eat meat: Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to draw closer to Hashem, and Noah was commanded to offer sacrifices.

Some question the reason proposed by Maimonides, that sacrifices in Judaism were meant to replace the practice of idol worshippers' sacrifices, but in fact, Maimonides wrote that this is not the primary reason behind the sacrificial service but rather one of the reasons (see Guide for the Perplexed Part III, Chapter 46). Particularly on sacrifices, Maimonides wrote that the true reason was unknown, due to its depth. He also wrote: "All the service of the Temple and the sacrifices are meant to influence the souls of men and awaken them to repentance, as we perform acts that symbolize casting and distancing our evil deeds and committing not to return to them, implanting in our souls the need to guard against reverting to folly." Therefore, there will be great importance to sacrifices even after the construction of the Third Temple (- from "Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed on the Torah," published by the Rav Kook Institute, by Rabbi David Makover).

How did the sacrifice bring a person closer to Hashem?

The sacrifice is called by its name because of the word "closeness," as through the sacrifice a person draws nearer to Hashem. Anyone offering a sacrifice feels as though they themselves should have been the sacrifice for their personal sins - and thus their sin is atoned. The individual sees themselves in the sacrifice and tangibly feels how they offer their body before Hashem on the altar. This powerful experience left a very deep impression on the soul and revealed to the person how important and grave their actions are before Hashem. In this way, it connected the person to his Creator in the deepest way possible, similar to the circumcision mark that is "engraved" on the body. However, this is a spiritual experience that cannot be demonstrated to a modern person, as since the Temple's destruction, we have lost our ability to understand the significance of the sacrifice and the power of the experience that was in it for the soul of the sacrificer.

Of course, if the person offered a sacrifice with the mistaken thought that Hashem needs the sacrifice, then the sacrifice had no value, and it was not desired by Hashem. Only a person offering a sacrifice to humble themselves before Hashem and out of recognition that it is the person who needs the sacrifice to get closer to Hashem, that is the sacrifice desired - and it is through it that they draw near to Hashem. The sacrifice is the best means to show our love for Hashem because it involves both physical and spiritual dedication.

Since the destruction of the Temple, unfortunately, we cannot draw closer to Hashem through sacrifices, so we regret and ask for the Temple to be rebuilt quickly, so we can repent and return to the days of purity and closeness to our Creator. Since the Temple's destruction, prayers have replaced sacrifices, as they are the closest thing to acknowledging our status before Hashem and atoning for the sins of Israel. Our prayers today bring us closer to our Creator like the sacrifice. However, we still need practical work to draw near with all our organs and sinews to our Lord Hashem, so we ask in the Amidah prayer: "Restore the service to Your holy Temple" (meaning restore the sacrificial service to the Temple that will be quickly rebuilt, God willing).

And what is the greatest purpose in this world, if not to draw closer to Hashem?

Animals were created for the purpose of human action. Without humanity, animals would not have been created in the world.
Most sacrifices are slaughtered and eaten, so their meat is no different from the meat we slaughter today anyway, only through the sacrifice did this slaughter have great and exalted spiritual significance. Please read this article carefully about the need and suffering of animals:
https://www.hidabroot.org/he/article/82824

After you finish reading the above article, please search the following link for the title "Do Animals Suffer Like Humans?":

https://www.hidabroot.org/en/node/90810

Sincerely,
Daniel Blass