Reading about the animal sacrifices ordained in the Torah can be disconcerting for modern ears. Indeed, the famous Rambam claims that sacrifices are not the ideal, but rather were a concession to the pagan world. If the Israelites would not have recourse to what was common in antiquity, they might be tempted astray to those cults that do practice animal sacrifices. Most commentators, however, take strong exception to this Rambam and claim that sacrifices are still quite relevant, and will be re-instituted when the Temple at Jerusalem will be rebuilt. Thus, they cannot be a concession to paganism, as today's world does not practice animal sacrifices.
I believe that, whichever side you are on, there is a life-changing lesson in the sacrificial program.
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