Hey there, and welcome back to Take One, the podcast that brings you just one soulful page of Talmud each day.

And on today's page, Menachot 93, we learn a subtle but

truly stunning lesson about, well, about just how we should approach this whole business of religion.

Behold, the Mishnah states, the requirement of placing hands is a non-essential mitzvah. The sages taught in a baraita and he shall

place his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to affect

atonement for him, Leviticus 1.4. The barita asks, but does the right of placing hands affect

atonement? Isn't atonement affected only through the presentation of the blood?

As it is stated with regard to blood,

for the soul of the flesh is in the blood,

and I have given it to you upon the altar

to affect atonement for your souls,

for it is the blood of the soul that affects atonement,

Leviticus 1711. Rather, the verse serves to say to you that if one

treated placing hands as though it were a non-essential mitzvah and therefore neglected to perform it,

then the verse ascribes him blame as though he did not affect atonement, but nevertheless,

in actuality, the offering atones for his sin, though he did not affect atonement, but nevertheless, in actuality, the offering atones

for his sin, and he does not need to bring another offering. Okay, so this is really confusing

stuff. On the one hand, when we bring a sacrifice, we are required to place our hands on the

Korban or the animal offering. On the other hand, no pun intended, we are required to place our hands on the Korban or the animal offering. On the other hand,

no pun intended, we are told that the placing of hands isn't an essential misva and that if we

just offered the Korban but did not place our hands on the beast, the offering still counts and

still atones for our sins. So why, pray tell, bother with the entire business of the laying of the hands to begin with?

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