Rambam - Sefer HaMitzvos: Positive Mitzvot 84, 85;<br>Negative Mitzvah 90: Positive Mitzvot 84, 85; Negative Mitzvah 90

Positive Mitzvah 84: An Offering may only be brought in the Sanctuary
Deuteronomy 12:14 "And there, you shall do all that I command you..."

A person can come closer to HaShem in the Beit HaMikdash, more than in any other place in the world.

We are commanded to present our offerings only in this special place (See also Negative Mitzvah 89).

Positive Mitzvah 85: Bringing an Offering to the Sanctuary even from outside the Land of Israel
Deuteronomy 12:26 "Only the holy things which you have, and your vows, you shall take and go to the place which the L-rd shall choose"

Even if a person lives far away from Eretz Yisrael, he is commanded to bring his sacrifice to the Beit HaMikdash in Jerusalem and offer it there.

There is absolutely no substitute for the Beit HaMikdash!

Negative Mitzvah 90: It is forbidden to slaughter sacrifices outside of their designated area
Leviticus 17:3 "If any man of the house of Israel slaughters... and does not bring it to the door of the tent of meeting"

All the sacrifices brought in the Beit HaMikdash must be sacrificed in the specific area designated for them.

It is prohibited to offer any sacrifice in any other place other than those areas specifically designated for this purpose.

Self surrender doesn't mean jumping off a bridge. Self surrender means surrendering the self. Putting aside the "I want", the "I need", the "I think such-and such". Self surrender is the subliminal drive behind all authentically good deeds. But as the world becomes more materialistic and the challenges greater, the self-surrender can no longer stay so subliminal.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com