Rabbi Sara led our discussion last time, beginning at Leviticus 1:16, which is about removing the bird’s crop and throwing it and contents into the ashes east of the altar. Verse 17 is about tearing the bird open, by the wings, without severing it, and then burning it to smoke–on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar–to make a burnt offering with an odor pleasing to YHVH. Bekhor Shor says that a bird is no less pleasing to God than a bull if the heart of the one offering it is directed toward heaven.
This brings the animal offerings to an end. Rabbi Sara reminded us that there are three separate animal offerings—herd, flock, and bird–and, in addition, there are grain offerings. A grain offering is called mincha.
Moving to grain offerings, R. Sara pointed out that the oil is refined and grain ground both by hand. She suggested the grains might be wheat, barley, and millet—but that we probably don’t have a taxonomy of ancient grains.
