PARSHOT HAGADOL – LEVITICUS 6:1 – 8:36 – 3:4 – 24

TZAV

In Parshat Tzav we learn about a fire that never went out. "Aysh Tamid Tukad Al Hamizbayach Lo Tichbeh" - "A permanent fire shall remain aflame on the it shall not be extinguished," 6:6 . The word "Tamid" (permanent) is interesting because we find the same word used with reference to the (sacrifice) Tamid which was offered only twice each day. How can twice daily be considered "Tamid" or eternal, like the flame on the altar or the Eternal light in our ?

Rabbi Salanter answers that for something to be permanent it need not necessarily be continuous 24 hours a day; twice a day is sufficient to be considered "Tamid." Tamid doesn't mean all day, it means every day.

So it is with our . Ideally, we should consider Torah our full time occupation, and the job we go to each morning, our part time job. However, most of us need to work in order to support our families. How then can we make Torah study a permanent flame that never goes out? In Pirkei Avot, 1:15 Shammai teaches that we should make our Torah study a regular permanent practice. By setting aside a specific morning and evening session every day, our Torah study becomes "Tamid," and the flame burns brightly all the time.

THOUGHT QUESTION OF THE WEEK

As we know, our primary is to learn Torah. With all the demands of modern living, when do you find time to study Torah?

Tzav Summary

General Overview: This week's , Tzav, continues describing the various sacrifices offered in the and Temple — a topic started in last week's reading. This is followed by an account of the seven-day inaugural of the Tabernacle.

First Aliyah: The Torah describes the mandatory daily removal of ashes from the altar. This was the first order of the day in the Temple service. The Torah then repeats the laws of the meal offerings described in last week's reading, adding several important details.

Second Aliyah: This section discusses the priestly meal offering, brought by the High Priest twice daily, and by every priest on the day he is first inducted into Temple service. The laws of the Offering and Guilt Offering, also discussed in last week's reading, are also repeated with added details. An important principle discussed is a vessel's absorption of sacrificial meats cooked therein, and the possibility of purging (certain types of) vessels of the vestiges it absorbed — a concept which is very germane in the laws of kosher. This section concludes with a discussion regarding various gratuities the priests were entitled to take from the different offerings and sacrifices.

Third Aliyah: The Torah now discusses the Thanksgiving Offering, brought by an individual who survived a perilous circumstance. We then learn about various grounds for the invalidation of a sacrifice, such as impurity or improper thoughts on the part of the priest performing the service. We are then commanded not to consume or any of the fats offered on the altar. The prohibition against eating these fats applies to all domesticated animals. The section wraps up with the portions of meat the priest is given from the Peace Offering. With this we conclude the laws of sacrifices.

Fourth Aliyah: We now read about the induction of the priests and the inauguration of the Tabernacle. In the presence of all the , dressed and his sons in the priestly vestments and anointed them, along with the Tabernacle and its vessels, with the holy anointing oil.

Fifth Aliyah: The priestly induction continues with Moses sacrificing a bullock and a ram as burnt offerings.

Sixth Aliyah: Moses then sacrifices a second ram, and their fats are burnt on the altar, along with some breads.

Seventh Aliyah: Completing the process of initiating the priests, Moses anoints them with the holy anointing oil which is mixed with some of the blood from the altar. Moses instructs the priests regarding the consumption of the sacrificial meats, and tells them that this entire process will be repeated for the following six days, and during this seven day inaugural they are not to leave the confines of the Tabernacle.

DID YOU KNOW…..

Were you ever called for an Aliya? “YA-AMOD…….” Everyone is familiar with the call. BUT did you ever listen carefully to the FIRST call – the one for the Kohein to be honored with the first LEARN!!! Aliya? It is different, and goes like this:

Now here is the point – after Gabbai 1 makes this call, WE ALL SHOULD ANSWER:

It will make Stern very happy!!!!

Shabbat Hagadol is the name of the Shabbat preceding Pesach. Some explain that this Shabbat takes its name from the end of the special haftarah for this day (Malachi 3:23): “I will send the Eliyahu to you before the coming of the great, Hebrew for "command," the sixth — צַו) ,fearful day of the Lord.” This is a foreshadowing of the Tzav role Eliyahu play at the Pesach seder as a harbinger of word, and the first distinctive word, in the the com img of the messianic age. There exist other ) is the 25th weekly Torah parashah) in the ,פָּרָּשַָּה) explanations. portion annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second in the . The parashah teaches how the priests performed Shabbat Hagadol (another explanation) - The the sacrifices and describes the ordination Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat Hagadol - of Aaron and his sons. The parashah is made

The Great Shabbat. On this Shabbat B'nai Yisroel up of 5,096 Hebrew letters, 1,353 Hebrew demonstrated their great faith in Hashem. It was on this words, 97 verses, and 170 lines in a Torah

day, in Egypt that B'nai Yisroel took , an Egyptian scroll deity, and told their captors that they intended to sacrifice those sheep as Moshe instructed them. This act took great courage and faith in Hashem and they were rewarded with divine protection. When you put faith in Hashem ahead of your fears, Hashem respon ds.

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