“And if you bring near a flour offering baked in the oven…and if your offering is a flour offering baked in a pan… and if your offering is a flour offering baked in a pot…”(Vayikra 2:4,5,7)
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch commented to this pasuk: “the Mincha (afternoon) flour offering that was done in the times of the Tabernacle and Temples ( today it’s replaced by the afternoon prayer) is an expression of our acknowledgement to H”S in gratitude for our food, comfort, and satisfaction; altogether referring to our happiness in life.
This fine flour offering refers to the different degrees and proportions of the necessities, comforts, and joys of life. What for a person might be a banquet for another person it might be his normal way of eating. This offering, which specify if it’s baked in the oven, baked in the pan, or baked in a pot is comparing bread, cake, and specially prepared dishes. Bread is considered ordinary food for a happy daily life, it’s compared to our day to day living in which we get used to.Cake signifies and extra enjoyment, it’s more luxurious than bread, this is connected with a special something that makes your normal life more special.And specially prepared dishes for special occasions is compared to the temporary, passing moment of special joy, like a wedding, the birth of a child, etc…
So that taken all together in one offering means that the mundane, the special, and the extra special should be taken in as special gifts of G-d’s love and concern for us. We should always recognize the good in everything and never take anything for granted, this is HaKaras HaTov!
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