From TorahVort.com
Tzav
This week we are going to read the blockbuster parshah, Tzav. There are loads of insights to this weeks reading! The Parsha starts off relating the mitzvah of taking a handful of ashes from the alter every morning. A different Kohen would do this task every morning. This was the first mitzvah of the day performed in the Tabernacle. Prior to carrying out this task, the Kohen had to immerse himself into a mikveh, to become spiritually clean. The Mikveh is a phenomenal way of purifying an individual and is a huge merit to go inside one. When removing the ashes, the Kohen would have to put on his ‘less clean’ clothes. When re- entering the tabernacle, once the ashes had been placed away, the Kohen would re-dress into his fine clothing. From this we learn that one should always dress up when at home different from the way one dresses at work and for sure one should put on his finest clothing for Shabbat. Many people feel the need that when leaving the house is the time to dress to impress, however one should always feel the need to dress up in honor of his/her husband/wife at home as this is the most important person to attract attention to, not random strangers in the street! Next up, the parshah relates the mitzvah of maintaining a constant fire on the alter. Every day the Kohanim would place few logs of wood on to a pillar of fire. This fire was not allowed to be extinguished, in fact, it burned uninterruptedly for over 100 years; forty years in the wilderness, 14 years in Gilgal (as related in the book of Joshua) and 57 years in Nov and Givon. This fire was miraculously never extinguished, even if wind, heavy rain or snow rained down on it. This fire actually brought about blessing upon the Jewish people as they fulfilled this mitzvah. The Parshah then discusses the meal offering of the Kohen Gadol. We learned in last weeks parshah that the meal offering was given by the ‘poor’ individuals as it tends to be much cheaper, so in order to not make the ‘poor’ people feel bad, the Kohen Gadol would bring his offering in the form of a ‘flour meal,’ to show how much of a distinguished offering this really was, making the ‘poorer’ people more proud of their offering. This teaches us the importance of making less wealthy people feel good about themselves, one should not feel superior than another and its proper to treat people equally whether the person is financially well off or not. Next up, the parshah discusses the ‘thanksgiving peace offering.’ A Jew had to bring this if he had been liberated from prison, recovered from a serious illness, returned from a sea voyage or travelling in the desert. We learn in the book of ‘Jonah,’ that after Jonah spent 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the fish, he survived and brought a thanks giving offering to Hashem. One should not just pray for needing something, they should also pray in gratitude for Hashem’s wonders. This offering featured four different types of bread that were waved with different meat in all directions, to signify that Hashem is everywhere!! The reading then goes on to relate how we may not eat the forbidden fat of an animal and not to eat blood. The Parshah concludes relating the seven inauguration days of the tabernacle, where Moshe anointed the Kohen Gadol, Aaron and his sons who were the Kohanim and also anointed all the components of the tabernacle. This week is ‘Parshat Hagadol,’ the Shabbat before Pesach. The Haftorah we will be reading is taken from chapter 3 of the book of Malachi, this Haftorah shows an urge for the people to trust in G-d and in the legacy of Moshe. I would like to dedicate this Dvar Torah in memory of David Luna whose Hebrew name is Dovid Ben Avraham, who passed away 30 days ago, may his Soul be resting in peace.
