AboutRabbi Barry Dov Lerner Expertise Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history,
philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.
Experience I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)
Question What happen to the carcass of the animals used for sacrifice occassions other than passover?
Answer Dear Debra,
Thanks for writing.
In essence, the different kinds of sacrifices from the time of the Desert Sanctuary=Mishkan, and the two Temples, are distinguished by their handling.
The ritual of the three different kinds of animal sacrifices - Guilt, Burnt and Peace offerings - was identical in regard to the presentation, the imposition of hands, and the slaughtering by the offerer himself. The differences related to the blood and the method of appropriation of the offerings by God.
The blood of the sin offering (except in the particular case of the trespass offering) was put (smeared) upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering in ordinary cases. It was sprinkled against the veil seven times and put upon the horns of the altar of incense in the sin offerings of the high priest and the whole congregation. It was also sprinkled on the front of the mercy seat in the sin offering of the Day of Atonement. The remainder of the blood was poured out at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. The blood of the trespass, burnt, and peace offerings was sprinkled on the altar of burnt offering round about.
The fat of the sin offering was in every case burnt upon the altar. The remainder of the flesh was eaten in a holy place by the priest and his sons. The whole of the burnt offering, after the skin which was the priest’s perquisite had been removed, was burnt upon the altar.
The fat of the peace offering was also burned upon the altar. The wave breast (the portion of the priests generally) and the heave thigh (the portion of the officiating priest) were eaten by their sons and their daughters in a clean place. The rest was given back to the sacrificers for them to eat with their families and also for the Levites to eat at the Sanctuary in a sacred feast.
The word "Minchah, used frequently of gifts made to men (Gen. 43: 11), and occasionally of bloody offerings (Gen. 4: 4), specially denotes an unbloody or meal offering. The essential materials of the Minchah were grain [not really "corn" which is from the New World] and wine. The "corn" or grain was either natural form, parched and bruised, or fine flour, or unleavened cakes. Oil was never absent from the Minchah, but whether as an essential or accompanying element is not clear. The Minchah was always seasoned with salt (Lev. 2: 13), and was offered along with incense. Leaven and honey, as fermenting substances, were excluded from its preparation. The Minchah could not be offered with a sin offering; on the other hand, no burnt or peace offering was complete without it. A portion of the Minchah, called the memorial, was placed on the altar of burnt offering; the remainder was eaten by the priests in a holy place.
Thus, there was no waste - either entirely consumed on the altar or partially consumed and the remainder left for the Priests, their families, the Levites and their families and for those bringing a sacrifice.
