Mitzvah —
369
To offer all sacrifices in the Temple
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וְהָיָ֣ה הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֥ם בּוֹ֙ לְשַׁכֵּ֤ן שְׁמוֹ֙ שָׁ֔ם שָׁ֣מָּה תָבִ֔יאוּ אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֑ם עוֹלֹתֵיכֶ֣ם וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֗ם מַעְשְׂרֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ וּתְרֻמַ֣ת יֶדְכֶ֔ם וְכֹל֙ מִבְחַ֣ר נִדְרֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּדְּר֖וּ לַיהֹוָֽה׃ וּשְׂמַחְתֶּ֗ם לִפְנֵי֮ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֒ אַתֶּ֗ם וּבְנֵיכֶם֙ וּבְנֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְעַבְדֵיכֶ֖ם וְאַמְהֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְהַלֵּוִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵיכֶ֔ם כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין ל֛וֹ חֵ֥לֶק וְנַחֲלָ֖ה אִתְּכֶֽם׃ הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּֽן־תַּעֲלֶ֖ה עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָ בְּכׇל־מָק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּרְאֶֽה׃ כִּ֣י אִם־בַּמָּק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד שְׁבָטֶ֔יךָ שָׁ֖ם תַּעֲלֶ֣ה עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁ֣ם תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּֽךָּ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת רְאֵה
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Deuteronomy 12:11-14 - "And it will be, that the place the Lord, your God, will choose in which to establish His Name there you shall bring all that I am commanding you: Your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the separation by your hand, and the choice of vows which you will vow to the Lord. And you shall rejoice before the Lord, your God you and your sons and your daughters and your menservants and your maidservants, and the Levite who is within your cities, for he has no portion or inheritance with you. Beware, lest you offer up your burnt offerings any place you see. But only in the place the Lord will choose in one of your tribes; there you shall offer up your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Sacrifices – קָרְבָּנוֹת
All sacrifices must be offered exclusively in the Temple, the place chosen by Hashem for His presence.
This mitzvah commands that all korbanot — whether obligatory or voluntary — be brought only in the Temple, the central place designated by Hashem. Before the Temple’s establishment, offerings were permitted at bamot (private altars), but once the Beit HaMikdash was chosen, those practices ceased.
Rambam emphasizes that centralizing the avodah safeguards the purity of worship and prevents confusion or idolatry. Sefer HaChinuch writes that this law ensures unity: all Israel comes to one place to serve Hashem, reinforcing faith and preventing fragmentation. The Talmud (Zevachim 112b) teaches that offering outside the Mikdash is a severe transgression, cutting the person off (karet). Rashi explains that the Temple was chosen so that Divine service would not be scattered. Ramban expands that Hashem’s choice of a single location embodies the covenantal bond — His presence resting among Israel in one central sanctuary.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Ma’aseh HaKorbanot 19:1): Rules that all korbanot must be brought only in the Temple.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 437): Explains that centralizing worship prevents idolatry and unifies Israel in Divine service.
- Talmud (Zevachim 112b): Declares offerings outside the Temple punishable by karet.
- Rashi (Deut. 12:11): Notes that Hashem’s choice of one place prevents confusion and dispersal of avodah.
- Ramban (Deut. 12:11): Teaches that the Temple symbolizes Hashem’s covenantal dwelling among Israel.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Rambam (Korbanot 19:1) codifies that offerings are valid only in the Mikdash, ensuring that holiness is not diminished by scattered or casual service.
Temple – בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
- Rashi (Deut. 12:11) explains that Hashem’s Name rests in the chosen place alone, making the Temple the singular home of Divine service.
Mizbeach – מִזְבֵּחַ
- Talmud (Zevachim 112b) states that sacrifices must be placed on the Temple altar; using a bamah is a punishable offense, reflecting the altar’s centrality.
Sacrifices – קָרְבָּנוֹת
- Sefer HaChinuch (437) emphasizes that only in the Mikdash are korbanot sanctified, uniting heaven and earth through one appointed service.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- Ramban (Deut. 12:11) highlights that all Israel gathers in one place to serve, strengthening communal worship and national unity. Midrash Tanchuma (Re’eh §8) further explains that pilgrimage festivals and centralized offerings created a rhythm of national gathering, where all tribes came together. This unity protected Israel from division and sectarian practices, reminding them that their identity flows from a shared covenant with Hashem, expressed communally in His chosen house.
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Midrash Sifrei (Deut. 12:11) teaches that bringing offerings to one chosen place shows trust that Hashem’s blessing flows from His designated dwelling.
Idolatry – עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה
- Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot, Aseh 85) explains that this mitzvah prevents the proliferation of idolatrous practices by centralizing worship.
Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
- Talmud (Zevachim 112b) warns that service outside the Mikdash incurs karet, instilling awe for the sanctity of Hashem’s house.
Covenant – בְּרִית
- Ramban (Deut. 12:11) writes that Hashem’s choice of a single sanctuary reflects His covenant with Israel, dwelling among them in one holy center.
Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- Rambam (Hilchot Korbanot 19:1) affirms this mitzvah is directed solely toward Hashem, binding worship exclusively to His chosen house.
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