The Torah teaches us something amazing about a woman who gives birth. After she gives birth, it says that she actually goes ahead and brings a korban (offering), a korban olah (burnt offering), and a chatat (sin offering). Which chatat does she bring? The pasuk (verse) says, “Bnei Yonah or Tor (young turtle dove or an older turtle dove).”
Now, some mefarshim (commentators) explain that Bnei Yonah and Tor are just one being young. What is Yonah? Basically a turtle dove. Whatever that is, a turtle dove. And one is a young turtle dove, Bnei Yonah, young turtle dove. And one is a Tor, an older turtle dove.
So the question is asked: Why are you putting the younger one first? Usually in the Torah, if you look throughout the whole Torah, it says Tor before Bnei Yonah. Why over here are you picking the Bnei Yonah first? So, to answer the question—hear the question again: usually in the Torah, it’s always Tor before Bnei Yonah. In this situation, it’s really Bnei Yonah before Tor, because the person brings one of the birds. Now, which one of the birds are you going to pick? One is already—the Tor is older, already married. The Bnei Yonah usually, what? It’s not so much involved in a relationship.
And therefore, the Torah is sensitive to the fact that you bring only one. Usually, let’s say you bring two, so the mother and father will go as a korban to Hashem. All right? Here, you’re only bringing one of them. So the Torah is very sensitive to this: if you’re bringing one of them, which one should you bring? The younger one. It’s not married as long, or it’s not even married at all. Why? Because of the sensitivity you have for the animal. Imagine, the Torah is being sensitive to the animal. Why? Because this time, you’re bringing only one. So therefore, bring the Bnei Yonah first. Bring that one. We prefer you bring that one over the Tor. If you can’t find them, bring the Tor. But otherwise, we prefer.
Why? You see the sensitivity that the Torah is bringing out to you: we don’t want it to feel bad. Usually, we always bring two. This time, we’re bringing one. Bring the Bnei Yonah. Why? It’s not married as long, or it’s not even married at all. Imagine, they bring this sensitivity for this. You have to have sensitivity for people. The Torah is very, very demanding that a person be sensitive to the feelings of others. No question about it. No question about it. And it demands it so, so importantly that if you look at the vidui (confession), at the anah of the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) prayers that we pray, you’ll see many times, many times, again and again and again and again, references to dealing with the poor, dealing with the oppressed, dealing with the downtrodden.
Each one is saying, “Wait, wait, wait. Fine. You didn’t have money to give to that guy. But did you at least appease the person?” A person is coming to you. He doesn’t have money. A person is coming to you. He does not have any money. He’s begging you: “Please, please, something.” At least say a good word. Have the decency to be sensitive toward that person.
And if the Torah is makpid (particular about) the animal, the Bnei Yonah, why? Because this time you’re only taking one. You’re not taking both birds. So therefore, take the one that’s not married as well. So how much more so, you have to be sensitive to other people’s feelings. In whatever feelings it is. In whatever feelings it is. Especially when it comes to friends. Especially when it comes to family. Especially when it comes to your own wife. Especially when it comes to your own wife. Why? How many times? You know? How many times? It happens. A person is disrespectful.
And especially when it comes to people who are around you. A person goes to shul (synagogue). Be sensitive to the people. A guy comes and sits in somebody else’s seat. You know that’s a seat. So why are you sitting in that guy’s seat? You know it’s a seat. Be sensitive. Listen. Kavod (respect). Therefore, a person has to remember how important these lessons are.