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Thanksgiving offering on Moshiach Times
One who experiences a miracle is obligated to bring a korban Todah, a thanksgiving offering. After we are redeemed, will we all be required to bring such an offering?
 
Our sages say, "For every breath that a person takes, he must thank G-d." If we are meant to thank G-d for each and every breath, surely we must do the same for something as momentous as the Redemption. However, there is a difference between a verbal expression of thankfulness and a thanksgiving offering. We do not bring an animal offering for each and every breath, but for a miracle. And not just for any miracle.
When the Jews were in the desert, the manna fell from the heavens on a daily basis, they had fresh water from Miriam's well, and were accompanied by the Clouds of Glory. Nevertheless, it is not mentioned anywhere that each Jew brought a thanksgiving offering every day.
For which miracles is such an offering required? Halachah states that there are four such miracles, as enumerated in Psalms (107): those who cross an ocean or desert, a sick person who recuperates, and a prisoner who is freed.
Does our being in exile meet any of the above conditions? One might argue that being redeemed from exile is like being released from prison, but one can't compare being locked up in a cell to being free to roam throughout the world, where we can reap all the benefits of G-d's wondrous world, as the verse states, "If you follow in my statues... I will give you rain in time."
Furthermore, the verse in Psalms states that only those who "sit in darkness and shadows," meaning those who were condemned to death, are obligated to bring a thanksgiving offering. In exile, generally speaking, we do not have a threat of death hovering over us constantly.
However, the Lubavitcher Rebbe mentions that when the Holy Temple will be rebuilt, “We will bring a thanksgiving offering for the redemption of the Jewish people from the imprisonment of exile.” The Rebbe also mentions, “Probably we will bring offerings of thanksgiving and rejoicing in connection with the Redemption... even more so than an individual who goes out of prison.” It is possible that the Rebbe was referring here to a communal thanksgiving offering rather than individual offerings.
(Bereishit Rabba 13:9; Berachot 54b; Likutei Sichot, vol. 12, p. 23. Based on talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, 2nd night of Passover, 5721, Shabbat parshat Beshalach and 2nd night of Shavuot, 5751)
 

 


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