Derasha 2 on Vayikra 2:1
Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 1
The Complete Passuk
וְנֶ֗פֶשׁ כִּֽי־תַקְרִ֞יב קָרְבַּ֤ן מִנְחָה֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה סֹ֖לֶת יִהְיֶ֣ה קָרְבָּנ֑וֹ וְיָצַ֤ק עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ שֶׁ֔מֶן וְנָתַ֥ן עָלֶ֖יהָ לְבֹנָֽה׃
Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi
Source Citation
Torah Temima points to Menachos 104b (same amud; R’ Yitzchak).
E-Daf — Menachos 104b
Core Text of Chazal
Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: מָה נִשְׁתַּנֵּית מִנְחָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהּ נֶפֶשׁ? אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מִי דַּרְכּוֹ לְהָבִיא מִנְחָה? עָנִי. מַעֲלֶה אֲנִי עָלָיו כְּאִלּוּ הִקְרִיב נַפְשׁוֹ לְפָנַי.
English: R’ Yitzchak said: Why is the mincha unique in that it says “nefesh” of it? The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Whose way is it to bring a mincha? A poor person. I credit him as if he offered his very soul before Me.
On the daf / in context: On the same amud as the partnership discussion. The choice of nefesh (rather than ish or adam) is read as pointing to the poor person’s offering and Hashem’s regard for it.
Type of Learning
Custom (word choice — nefesh rather than a neutral noun for “person”).
What Is Learned
The meal-offering is the classic gift of the poor; the Torah’s word “soul” teaches that Hashem treats it as if the bringer gave his own life.