צו |Tzav

Shoshannah Brombacher, Netherlands/USA

Midrash Rabbah Leviticus 7:2 on parashat Tzav states that God prefers a broken heart over animal and other sacrifices in the Temple. The midrash draws on remorse and repentance to demonstrate the significance of this teaching, as with the case of King David. Because King David’s repentance was accepted, his son, Shlomo, was permitted to build the Temple and the altar therein. We learn from this that repentance is more precious than sacrifice. While we are reciting Psalms and pouring out our hearts, in repentance or prayer as formerly with a sacrifice, we must never forget to pluck the strings of our hearts to make it break and overflow.

Professional Background  Shoshannah Brombacher, born in Amsterdam, 1959, is a Jewish scholar, visual artist, author/ illustrator, and “maggidah” who came to New York via Amsterdam, Leyden, Jerusalem, and Berlin. Her art delves deeply into Jewish, especially Hassidic life and lore.