For this reason, the common translation, sacrifice, does not capture the essence of the word. When the prophet Isaiah, for example, saw people ignore the poor and sick, cheat, and deal dishonestly with one another but take their offerings to the Jerusalem Temple, he scorned and denounced them. He told them that God did not want their sacrifices because their hands were stained with crime. Among ancient Jews, hypocrisy was ridiculed. Sacrifices were not considered a means of removing guilt for wrong doing.
Prayer is sacrifice.
In true prayer we try to surrender our vanities, to burn our insolence, to abandon bias, dishonesty, envy. Prayer is the means through which we sacrifice our selfishness and greed and get in touch with our powers for truth, mercy, and love. My portion , Vayikra, focuses on the meaning of sacrifice. Today, the word sacrifice is an act of self deprivation , not letting yourself have something that you want. Most of the time when we give up something, we get something better in the end, maybe even just a good feeling.