Disabilities and Imperfections

In this week's Torah portion, it mentions that people who are disfigured or have a disability like blindness can not bring sacrifice to the temple. Taken literally this is very disturbing for me as I have worked with people who are blind or have a development disability. If G-d lives us all why is this so? After all we are all imperfect in some way. Can you please explain?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

You are correct: nobody is perfect. Everyone has imperfections as you mention.

However, the Torah tells us (Hashem tells us!) that those who represent Hashem, those who serve in the Beis Hamikdash on behalf of the entire Jewish people must have certain qualifications.

To make a comparison, there are some jobs in the modern world you just simply cannot if you have disabilities. A blind person can never be a policeman or security guard, someone who is missing a leg cannot play on a professional sports team, someone without a voice cannot be a high school teacher.

It is similar in the Beis Hamikdash. There are certain imperfections that, for various reasons, disqualify a person from performing the service.

G-d loves everyone equally, but there are different roles for different people. A Levite cannot perform the Birkat Kohanim and a woman cannot serve as a witness in ritual matters. We are equal but different.

I hope this helps you understand.

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