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No Trade-Ins

Written by d fine

The prohibition of temurah is mentioned at the very end of sedra (27:33), whereby one who donates a korban to the Mikdash is not allowed to swap it with a different animal they have in their possession. The Rambam (hilchos Temurah 4:13) writes that the natural urge of a person is to try and get away with replacing their consecrated animal for a cheaper one to save money. Thus, the Torah banned any korban-switching. The Rambam continues that this mitzvah – as well as most mitzvos – is to ‘force the yetzer (hara) and fix up his character.’ In other words, mitzvos are not dry acts; they are Divine means of working on our internal characters and developing a refined personality whilst fostering your innate connection to HaShem.

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