Rambam - Sefer HaMitzvos: Positive Mitzvah 68, 75, 76: Positive Mitzvah 68, 75, 76

Positive Mitzvah 68: Offering of a Court that has made an error in judgment
Leviticus 4:13 "And if the entire congregation of Israel commits an unintentional sin and the truth is hidden from the eyes of the assembly"

At camp, Ruthie's group set out on a hike. One of the counselors was the leader. She went first, leading the group through a path in the forest.

Ruthie and her friends trailed behind, relying on their counselor's sense of direction. The counselor took a wrong turn and the group ended up miles away from their destination. She was upset because the girls depended on her mistake had caused them all to get lost.

We look to our Jewish leaders for guidance and direction. If they make a mistake, causing the people who followed their instructions to transgress a commandment of the Torah - these leaders must atone.

The Torah commands them to bring this sacrifice.

Introduction to Mitzvot 74 - 77:

The Concept of Purity and Impurity

When you turn on a light, do you ever stop and wonder what electricity really is?

In school, you may learn how electrical current flows through the wires and lines.

Scientists can explain how the flow of energy operates, but does anyone know why electricity works in the way that it does?

HaShem created the world and all that is within it according to His own wisdom. The Torah defines the specific pattern of life which HaShem wants us to follow. While there are many laws in the Torah that we can understand and know the reasons for, there are some laws for which the Torah gives no explanation. We accept the entire Torah even though we may not understand all its concepts.

One such concept is the status of "Purity and Impurity." The terms "Pure" and "Impure" are not synonyms for clean and unclean. When the High Priest served HaShem in the Beit HaMikdash on the holiest day of the year - Yom Kippur - he was obviously clean. Still, he had to safeguard himself from impurity!

The Torah defines different types of impurity and explains how a Jew can purify himself. One of the steps of purification involves presenting a sacrifice. The type of sacrifice and the manner in which it is offered differs for the different types of impurity. A Jew who is purifying himself is commanded to offer the appropriate sacrifice.

Positive Mitzvah 75: Offering for the "Zavah"
Leviticus 15:28-29 "But if she is cleansed from being a Zavah... on the eighth day, she shall take for herself..."

The Zavah impurity applies only to females. A woman purifying herself from this impurity is commanded to bring the type of sacrifice that is specified in the Torah.

Positive Mitzvah 76: Offering after Childbirth
Leviticus 12:6 "And when the days of her purification period are fulfilled, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring..."

When a woman gives birth to a child, she is considered impure for a specific amount of time. A woman purifying herself after childbirth must bring the type of sacrifice that is specified in the Torah.

To fool the world is one thing, but to fool yourself is no big deal. You're a fool for wanting to fool yourself -- and anyone can fool a fool.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com