Speak to the Children of Israel and explain to them If any man (adam) of you would bring an offering near unto God, from animals, from the herd and from the flock shall you bring your offerings. (Leviticus 1:2)

Our Sages read the word adam with a capital “a”, as Adam, referring to Adam haRishon, the first human being. From their reading, the Sages derive the halacha that prohibits sacrificing a stolen animal. Just as Adam brought sacrifices from his own possessions (since God had given him the entire world), so too subsequent generations may sacrifice exclusively from their own possessions.

My father added that we can also derive a moral lesson from our Sages’ reading. When Adam offered his first sacrifice, he was still alone in the world, and he constituted all of humanity. He could not wait for others to initiate offerings to God, but necessarily had to be the first to act. Similarly, Adam’s descendants, when they serve God, should not wait for others to initiate and then follow, but must take the lead. One must fill his obligations, whether or not others do.
When an individual fulfills his responsibility, it can serve as a model for others. Thus, our verse begins with the singular “any man” and concludes with the plural “you (plural) shall bring your offerings.” (David Magence)

Shabbat Shalom!
The Va’ad