The meaning of sacrifice derives from combining body and soul; this symbiotic relationship between the inanimate compounds that make up the body and the ethereal essence conveyed by the soul to animate life are always in counterdiction. The body wants to live like an animal—caring only about self-preservation and physical pleasure, but the soul wants only to do good actions upon the earth—the pinnacle of creation.

From the galaxy until the DNA life hovers around a point in the form of a spiral, but when speaking about the Creator and creation that point is the earth because it is here where the human being possesses freedom of choice. This freedom of choice is a function of the soul and the body seen from the vantage point of the conscious mind which must constantly chose between the two.

The Temple in Jerusalem was arranged and configured to reflect this disparity between the animal and the human. In the center of the Temple was the altar where the carcass of the animal was burned after having been slaughtered in the north-side of the adjacent area. North is representative as strength through contraction ultimately seen in the element of fire which reduces the sacrifice down to ash—the elemental earth. Water, air and fire are the other source elements of life: water-growth; fire-animal; air-human (speaker) are released as smoke rising into the heavens: the prayer.

The daily sacrifice of lambs at the altar was a philosophical statement to remind the Jewish People, who are compared to the lamb, of the primary goal in life: to do good actions upon the earth. It was this commitment to sacrifice one’s innate animal instincts for the higher good which reaches to the very essence of life. Among the different sacrifices being offered was the Toda/Thanksgiving offering and strangely enough the word Toha also means turkey.

This unexpected relationship between the American holiday of Thanksgiving and the ancient Hebrew language perhaps can be explained by the story that Ben Franklin wanted America to have her own distinct language and suggested ancient Hebrew. His suggestion did not work out, but a little Hebrew slipped in regardless as people throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving with the eating of the turkey.

Hodo L’HaShem, Ki Tov Ki L’Olam Chasdo/Thanks to God, whose kindness goes on forever.