What is the Purpose of the Mitzvah of Sacrifices?

I would appreciate an explanation about the sacrifices in the Temple. Since serving Hashem is through prayer, repentance, studying Torah, etc., why is there a need to slaughter animals and offer them on the altar? I would also like an explanation on the topic of Melika..

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Greetings and blessings,

Technically, sacrifices are not different from slaughter, where the flesh of the animal is consumed. Sheep are eaten by humans, and in the wild, by other animals. However, Judaism teaches us how to elevate even the lowly material actions of this world, and find divine purpose and intent in them.

In this world, we are beings with bodies that need to eat and drink. The uniqueness of Judaism compared to other religions is in the commandments that elevate humans through the material and by means of the material, and not by denying it.
The Arabs turned desires into the main thing, and spirituality into secondary, while Christians and Buddhists abstained from material pursuits, which led to apathy and even sin.
Judaism offers the middle way, the correct approach to using creation in a beneficial and non-destructive way. Please see here the example with the head of the Yeshiva.
When a Jew blesses meat with intent, intending to thank the Creator through a mitzvah meal, by the honor in this meal, and through the gratitude for the enjoyment given to us by our Creator, there is a spiritual elevation and closeness to Hashem. Similarly, in the mitzvah of sacrifices, there was a special spiritual elevation.

What is the Purpose of the Mitzvah of Sacrifices?

It is first important to emphasize the obvious, that Hashem does not need the sacrifices for Himself, for whoever thinks the sacrifice is meant to give a "gift" to Hashem, is making a great mistake, since Hashem is infinite and the whole world is His, and a person cannot give Him anything. In the Book of Samuel I (Chapter 15), the prophet says to King Saul: "Does Hashem delight in burned offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord's command? Surely, obedience is better than sacrifice, attentiveness than the fat of rams." In the Book of Jeremiah (7:22), the prophet says in the name of Hashem: "For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: Obey me."
While Hashem received burnt offerings and sacrifices from us, He does not need them. It is the person who needs them. Whoever offers a sacrifice also feels that he himself should have been the sacrifice for his personal sins, he is sad and anxious about his fate - thus his sin is atoned.

The sacrifices are a means to draw closer to Hashem, but first and foremost, Hashem wants the good heart of the person, for the person to fulfill His will. The sacrifice is named so because it brings one closer; by offering the sacrifice, the individual draws closer to Hashem. If a person offers a sacrifice with the thought that Hashem needs the sacrifice, then the offering is worthless and not pleasing to Hashem. Only when one offers a sacrifice with the intention of humbling oneself before Hashem, recognizing that it is the person who needs the sacrifice to draw near to Hashem, then the sacrifice is accepted - and through it, they draw closer to the Creator of the world. The sacrifice combines both physical and spiritual closeness. Unfortunately, today we cannot offer sacrifices, so we pray and hope for the rebuilding of the Third Temple soon, to confess sins and return to the days of purity and closeness to our Creator. Today's prayers replace the sacrifices, as they are the closest thing we have to recognize our position before Hashem and atone for the sins of the people of Israel.

And what great purpose is there in this world, if not to draw closer to Hashem?
Animals were created for the purpose of humanity and its deeds. Without humanity, animals would not have been created.
Most sacrifices are slaughtered and eaten, so their meat is no different from the meat that we slaughter today, but through the sacrifice, this slaughter received great and elevated spiritual significance.
Please read this article carefully about the needs and the suffering of animals.
After finishing reading the above article, please search the following link for the title "Do Animals Suffer like Humans?".

For an extended article, click here.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel Bles