Beyond the Korbanot

G-d is usually instructing the people on how to give the proper korbanot to Him. People since the time of Avraham till today have had trouble connecting or becoming closer to G-d. Korbanot has always been a way for them to build a close relationship with G-d. At the time Shlomo built the Beit Hamikdash, the people were as close as ever. They would being the Korban Tamid (the daily sacrifice) and all the others for different reasons. This was the peak of Shlomo's rule. He had a close, spiritual connection with G-d and so did his people. As soon as Shlomo began getting influenced by his many foreign wives and building Bamot for making sacrifices to other gods is when the chaos and sinning began. All members of Bnei Yisrael would come from all over to the Beit Hamikdash on the Shalosh HaRegalim in order to pray, bring sacrifices, and celebrate together. Yiruvum, in order to maintain his leadership, built temples in Beit El and Dan for his people to go to on this holidays so they would not go to the Beit Hamikdash and potentially stay there and join the other kingdom. This prevented the people from having a close connection to G-d and led to the sins they would eventually commit. From then on, all of the kings of Yisrael would be compared to him (in a negative way). All of this just proves how powerful korbanot can be. They can create a close relationship between G-d and the people or in the wrong situation, they can destroy a nation. 

When Yishayahu went to tell the nation that G-d was not happy with them, they didn't believe him at all. They even had reasons not to believe them. Everything was going so well. They were bringing Korbanot and were leading successful lives. Nevertheless, Yishayahu the Navi was telling them that G-d was angry with them and He plans on punishing them through destruction like Sedom and Emora. Why did G-d destroy those two cities? They both lacked Tzedeck and Mishpat. Then, G-d said that Bnei Yisrael's hands are full of blood and they are performing an abomination. He says that all of the Korbanot they are bringing are an abomination and He doesn't want them. G-d even says that they are trampling His courtyard with their presence. He has also stopped accepting their prayers. G-d has shut down every way Bnei Yisrael has of connecting with Him. And why? Because they have disregarded the Mitvot Bein Adam VChavero. The Korbanot are now useless and they must focus on their relationships with each other before G-d can forgive them.

Where else have we heard of people being punished because they have only followed the Mitzvot between man and G-d and disregarded the Mitzvot between man and man? Every year we count Sefirat HaOmer and follow the customs meant to make this a sad time in order to remember and mourn Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students who perished during this time due to their lack of respect for each other. These two stories prove how crucial our relationships with each other truly are. We might even be getting the benefit of the doubt today since we don't have the Beit Hamikdash because our relationships with each other aren't exactly stellar. Most people think the most significant part of our religion is having the closest relationship possible with G-d and doing whatever we can to get there, and yes, that is a major component to Judaism, but having the best possible relationships with each other are just as important if not more.