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Why does the Torah (תורה) equate slaughtering sacrificial animals outside the Temple to murder? The shiur develops the Ramban (רמב"ן)'s approach that originally all animal life was as protected as human life until Hashem (ה׳) permitted killing animals after the flood. When someone slaughters a korban outside the Temple without heter, it reverts to the original equation between animal and human life.
This shiur examines the severe prohibition of shechutei chutz (slaughtering sacrificial animals outside the Temple) found in Parshas Acharei Mos, where the Torah (תורה) states "dam yechashev lo" - it is considered as if he spilled human blood. Rabbi Yeshaya Greenberg ZT"L analyzes Ramban (רמב"ן)'s profound interpretation that this equation to murder stems from the original state before the flood when killing any animal was prohibited just like killing humans. The discussion traces the evolution of the prohibition against taking life from Adam Harishon through Noach. Originally, Adam was forbidden to kill animals, with disagreement among authorities whether this was because he couldn't eat meat at all or could only eat animals that died naturally. This changed after the flood when Hashem (ה׳) told Noach "kol remesh asher hu chai lachem yihyeh l'achlah" - every living creature shall be food for you, just like the vegetation given to Adam.
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Parshas Acharei Mos
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