Parashat Tzav

Tsav 5768/2008

The final sections of the Book of Shmot (Exodus) were devoted to the building of the Tabernacle and the opening sections of this book (Vayikra – Leviticus) describe the function of the completed Tabernacle. It was to be the site of the sacrifices and the rituals associated with maintaining the community’s close connection with G’d.

There is a literary parallel between the way that the instructions in Shmot are presented and the way the Book of Vayikra is structured. In Shmot, first the people are welcomed to contribute to the building of the Tabernacle by donating their valuables, each according to his motivation. This is in Parshat Terumah – meaning ‘donation’ or ‘contribution’. In the following parsha, Tetzave, meaning  ‘commanded’, the Cohanim are given their instructions as to the role they will play.

Last week, we read how sacrifices would be brought, beginning with an ordinary person who might be motivated to offer out of a personal desire to be close to the Divine or to share his joy and gratitude after a fortuitous event. The various sin offerings, which would, by necessity, be brought by all segments of society, are then listed. This week, the parsha returns to the Cohanim, outlining their particular duties. Once again, their duties are ‘commanded’.

Before the Tabernacle was a reality, instructions were first issued to the ordinary people and only afterwards to the Cohanim. After its construction, the pattern is repeated. While an ordinary person might evade the sacrificial duties, the Cohanim were born into a position that was both privilege and burden.

Tsav 5767/2007

This week’s parsha is the second in the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus), Tsav.

 As previously noted, the priests were required to keep the fire on the altar burning each morning, as well as to clean the ashes from the previous day. Menial labour but, nevertheless, sacred labour.

What is abundantly clear in this week’s set of instructions is that this was to occur even on Shabbat. The fire was never to go out. It required daily attention. We have already been told that on Shabbat we are forbidden from lighting a fire ‘throughout your habitations’ -  throughout ‘your’ habitations but not throughout ‘My’ habitation.  Shabbat is a sign of the covenant between G’d and the Jewish people.

The altar of the Tabernacle was also such a sign but it was more than that. The korban (sacrifice) was a vehicle to bring us closer to the Divine, which is also the aim of Shabbat and other laws but they are less direct. We cannot overestimate the value of this fire, which enabled the korban  to take place.

 Just as saving life overrides Shabbat, maintaining the fire of the altar overrides Shabbat for it was a means to closeness to G’d, the ultimate source of all life