Sacrifices were the main means for Jews to worship God until the destruction of the Second Temple. In early days, sacrifices had been offered at several religious centers. Subsequently, when Israel wandered in the desert, sacrificing was limited to the Tabernacle (mishkan). By the time Israel had settled in Canaan, offerings were conducted at the religious center at Shilo, or on open altars (bamot). At a later stage - following the construction of Solomon's temple - the offering of sacrifices was restricted exclusively to the temple in Jerusalem (The Babylonian Talmud, Zevahim 18b, 112b). Three main categories of sacrifices are ditinguished: sacrifices stressing man's subordination to God; thanksgiving offerings; and sacrifices offered by a sinner as an act of repentance. Some of the sacrifices were obligatory, such as the daily (public) offerings, and others were optional, for example, those offered by individuals for personal reasons.

Sacrifices were brought from animals - bulls, sheep, goats, doves or young pigeons - or grain. The four groups of animal offerings include: (1) burnt-offerings, which were completely burnt on the altar; (2) peace-offerings; (3) sin-offerings, brought by repenters; or (4) guilt-offerings, brought by sinners seeking forgiveness from a fellow man. The animals intended for sacrifice were to be unblemished; at times, also a certain age or gender were required.