Tzav

The Gemara quotes Rabi Shimon bar Yochai who asks: Why is there a takana to daven quietly as it states by Chana who prayed, “and her voice wasn’t heard”? In order not to embarrass people who do aveiros which they confess during the davening. If people would daven out loud then people would hear about each other’s aveiros and they would be embarrassed. Therefore, Chazal were mesaken to daven quietly, that way people can admit to their aveiros without being heard.

The Gemara writes we derive this from the slaughtering of a korban Chatas and korban Olah. The passuk does not obligate one who needs to bring the Chatas offering to slaughter in its own prescribed place. The reason is because everyone would see that this particular individual is bringing a korban for an aveira that he did. Rather, the passuk states, “in the place where you slaughter an Olah slaughter a Chatas.” Now the one who performed an aveira won’t be embarrassed since he might be bringing an Olah.

The Gemara states although the blood of the Chatas is above the חוט הסקרא and the Olah is below, only the Kohen knows about this, not anyone else. This way the person bringing the Chatas is not embarrassed. The Torah states an Olah is a male animal whereas a Chatas can be either a male or female. The Gemara wonders, if so, one who brings a female animal for a Chatas will be embarrassed? The Gemara writes that the sheep’s tail blocks out whether it is male or female, so it is not noticeable which korban he is bringing. Although the goat, which does not have a tail, can be offered for a Chatas, if one were to bring a goat, he is embarrassing himself since he could bring a sheep instead. We see from here how much rachamim Hashem has. One might think, since the person performed an aveirah he should be embarrassed; this is not the case, Hashem has mercy on such an individual to not embarrass him.

One who brings a korban for transgressing avodah zarah offers a female goat. Indeed, he will be embarrassed, but here, this is specifically for everyone to see so that he can obtain forgiveness. Rashi writes he did such a great aveira that Hashem put on him embarrassment so it should be a kapparah.

The Gemara states just as Hashem performs chessed and has rachamim, so too we should assist others and care about people. May Hashem help us be careful to not embarrass people and to act with kindness and mercy toward others!