I am in no position to give any advice , but I would like to understand
your letter better. Could you explain more the problem your students face?
Isn't there a contradiction:
1. it would mean nothing more than dropping a few coins in a box
2. are overwhelmed and turned-off by the blood and gore of it all
I think (based on Rashi) that one of the meanings of the sacrifice is that
one should have been killed oneself for his sins ("as if he were
sacrificing himself") - so the sinner should see what should have been done
to him and repent. The idea as I understand it being that the "blood and
gore" become assotiated in one's mind with the sin. Perhaps it is less easy
to become used to than the "dropping a few coins in a box". Do your
students not agree with this?
And of course, if the sacrifices became a routine, and people don't repent
at all they are meaningless. So why does it confuse your student? I would
like to understand.
"The primitive practices picked up in Egypt" is hardly worth arguing with,
I fancy you agree. Golden Calf is exactly the opposite of the korbanot
(sacrifices). Am I wrong somewhere?
"Michael S. Tsirkin" <mtsirkin@usa.net>