By Rabbi Shmuel Gluck

There’s only one Korbon in this Parsha, that when it’s brought the Torah says V’nefesh Ki Sakriv, when a soul brings a Korbon. Rashi explains that poor people, having little possessions, their offering is appreciated by Hashem as if they brought their soul to Him. The message is that a poor person’s offering is more appreciated than other offerings, because s/he brings whatever s/he can afford, and possibly even more than s/he can afford.

This message is well known. Nevertheless, it’s rare for people to internalize it. This is an example of where we would, probably, say that Shomaim is an Olam Hofuch, an upside-down world, only to be told that Shomaim is an Olom Bohir, a world that has clarity. What we consider to be correct is really the upside-down attitude.

In our world, is a child who has a difficult time learning, ever told that his/her Torah is Rei’ach Nicho’ach, and significantly more than a child who naturally excels?

In our world, is a child who has a difficult time learning, ever told that his/her Torah is Rei’ach Nicho’ach, and significantly more than a child who naturally excels? Is a child who has a difficult time sitting straight for five minutes given an acknowledgment when s/he listens to his/her father’s thoughts at the Shabbos table, even though it was for only five minutes? If there is an acknowledgment, is it heartfelt, or just a Chinuch “move”, an attempt to motivate him/her further? Does a learning disabled adult who chose to go to work, when s/he was young, despite his/her brothers continued learning, receive his/her deserved respect for staying sincerely religious, and offering her/his clients an honest day’s work?

Hashem truly appreciates any gift from people who have minimal resources, whether it is money, patience, or intellect. Everything people give is a form of a Korbon. When people give from their minimal resources they are demonstrating a sign of friendship that wealthy people can’t and makes it the only Korbon truly deserving of having a Rei’ach Nicho’ach. Look for all those poor people who are giving off beautiful smells, and share in Hashem’s pleasure by noticing and acknowledging it. 

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