The second pillar that supports the world is avodah, Temple service. Transgressions are one of the primary reasons why we have difficulty concentrating during prayer (see Sources of Distraction). When we had the Beis Hamikdash we could offer sacrifices daily and cleanse ourselves of any sins. To our great sorrow, we no longer have a Beis Hamikdash, and we cannot offer sacrifices. We long for its rebuilding daily, so that we can renew the exalted level of intimacy that we once enjoyed. What can we do in the interim to prevent our sins from disrupting our prayers?

Chazal have told us that reciting the Torah’s depiction of the sacrificial offerings is considered as if we are actually performing that rite (Taanis 27b). For this reason familiarity with the halachos pertaining to these sacrifices is important, for they can help us feel as if we were actually involved in making the offerings in the Temple.

Each morning and afternoon in the Beis Hamikdash, the Korban Tamid (the daily offering) was brought. Today the Temple is no longer standing, but we can still recreate this service by reciting the eight verses that describe it (Bamidbar 28:1-8). Since some opinions obligate women to recite the verses describing the Korban Tamid (Graz 47,10), it is praiseworthy if a woman can make time in her schedule to recite Parashas Tamid (Biur Halachah 47[end]).

Text Copyright © 2014 by Rabbi Daniel Travis and Torah.org