LEAD TIDBIT
With a Grain of Salt
The expression “To take something with a grain of salt” goes back almost 2000 years to the Latin phrase “cum grano salis”, introduced by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia. It means to take something with skepticism and doubt. The origin of the phrase can be found on the internet; the reader is invited to satisfy his own curiosity, if indeed he is curious. As old as the expression is, we’ve got it beat by a couple of thousand years.

And for us, based on the pasuk in Vayikra (partially quoted in the above box), the grain of salt has great significance. Salt, a pinch will do - even less, is required on all Korbanot that went on the Mizbei’ach. There are a variety of reasons and ideas offered for the requirement of salting a Korban and the prohibition of offering a Korban that has not been salted.

Just as people salt their food because it enhances the flavor and enjoyment of the food, so too must we offer food on G-d’s Altar. Not, point out the commentaries, that G-d eats our Korbanot; perish that thought. But we are influenced psychologically by what we do, and meat without salt is literally, as well as connotatively insipid and unsavory.

The Midrash tells us that when the waters were separated into Upper and Lower realms, on day two of Creation, the lower waters objected be being distanced from the Divine. It was promised, so to speak, that the people of Israel would salt their korbanot, their offerings before G-d. (Salt is considered a component of water.)

Some of the rules of salting Korbanot are the same as for koshering meat; the link is important to us.

Salt does not spoil and it preserves other things. This lends an eternal dimension to Avoda in the Mikdash.

The salt for all korbanot - communal and personal - came from the Silver Half-Shekel fund. This reflects the interdependence of all Jews, and becomes another message of Salt.