Towards the end of this first portion of VaYikra, the Torah comes to teach us a second layer of atonement - or, since that word sounds quite serious and not quite my voice, making things right. Specifically, the very last verses of the portion state very clearly that in cases of monetary misappropriation, the making it right is two-fold: first, repay the principle plus 20% (and that penalty amount is actually subject to extensive commentary as many people that the extra “fifth” means that 25% is added to the principle, making the extra a fifth of the new total of principle plus penalty) and, second, make a guilt-offering of an unblemished ram.
I am sure I’m not the first to say this and I am sure I am not offering anything original of a subject but it is an interesting note that our actions have an impact on both our this-world lives and spiritual lives. It is not nearly enough to being a sacrifice and make things right with H’ - in addition to that, we must take steps to right the improper actions we have taken against our neighbors.
Today we are missing the former. For cases of financial crimes, or really any crime, part of the punishment is an often meaningless restitution award. I say meaningless because if someone has stolen money there is almost zero chance that they still have that money much less money to pay a fifth on top of the stolen money. I wonder why the Torah can state so confidently that a thief can and should be able to repay the mandated total whereas in our generation such monetary penalties are rarely enforced. And then the second, and only, enforceable part - prison - has almost no corrective power and may make things much worse.
I truly - truly! - wonder if the monetary repayment plus specified sacrifice system ever worked - or, perhaps better said, was ever totally observed. If it did - it would result in a very real, and very powerful, righting of wrongs - with both humanity and H’. A beautiful righting of wrongs that may have even made the world(s) better than had the wrongdoing not been committed in the first place.
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