PORTIONS WITH Jason JOURNEY THROUGH LE\llTICUS THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION LEVITICUS 6:1-8:36* תשרפ וצ / Parashat Tzav

In this week’s guide…

The COMMENTARY from Rabbi Jason shines a light on the beauty found in the meal, which is tied into the “meal offering” which is described in this week’s portion. Once again, we are reminded that every detail in Scripture is intentional – there are no accidents in our Bible! Even more significantly, we’re reminded that all Scripture is pointing us to one Person… ...... 1

The NEW TESTAMENT TIE-IN touches on a subject that is dominating our headlines as well our daily lives: contagion. The provides strict and explicit regulations for dealing with contagious diseases, most famously, leprosy. Yet Yeshua-Jesus seems immune to these infectious diseases – why? A clue might be hidden in the grain offering! ...... 2

BY THE NUMBERS will absolutely encourage you this week! Have you ever wondered what the point of all the sacrifices described in Leviticus actually was? What actually happened in the act of sacrificing a lamb? In this article you will not only find the answers to these questions, you’ll see how the Savior’s sacrifice on Calvary revolutionized your life ...... 3

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OVERVIEW

This week’s Torah portion is Tzav, Hebrew for “command.” This passage revisits the five types of sacrifices that were previously described in the opening chapters of Leviticus, but adds the priestly regulations for those rituals. Tzav concludes with a detailed description of how and his sons were to prepare themselves to enter the Holy of Holies.

In this portion we encounter unusual things such as the , as well as applying to the right ear, thumb, and big toe of the priests. We also are challenged by the purpose of sacrifice in ancient Israel: what exactly was accomplished in these rites? It may be helpful to read these texts from at least two perspectives. First, as a contemporary, observant Jew who no longer has the ability to engage these sacred rituals due to the lack of a Temple. Secondly, as disciples of Yeshua-Jesus “who loves us and has freed us from our by His blood and made us a kingdom, kohanim (priests) to His God and Father” (Revelation 1:5-6/TLV).

* due to verse and chapter discrepancies, Leviticus 6:1-8 in most of our Bibles is actually an extension of the fifth chapter in the and Torah Portion schedule. FUSION GLOBAL WITH RABBI JASON – Parashat Tzav Leviticus 6:1-8:36 COMMENTARY by Rabbi Jason Sobel

This week’s Torah portion continues to talk about the sacrifices offered in the . One of the sacrifices mentioned is the “meal offering,” known as the mincha in Hebrew. Throughout the . year, the meal offering was cooked with unleavened bread, matzah.

The mention of matzah as the meal offering connects this week’s Torah portion to Passover, which is no coincidence. At the Passover meal known as a Seder (which Yeshua-Jesus celebrated at the Last Supper), matzah, bitter herbs, and the Passover lamb are the three key elements that must be eaten as a reminder of the Exodus from Egypt. Unleavened bread

Matzah has a numerical value of 135. This connection is significant for several reasons. The Lord commanded the whole assembly of Israel to participate in the Passover from generation to generation. They were to do this as if they came out of Egypt. The numerical value for “assembly” which is found in Exodus 12:6 also has a numerical value of 135.

Israel had to watch over the Passover lamb until the fourteenth day of the month, after which the whole “assembly” of the congregation of Israel would slaughter it at twilight. They were required to put the lamb’s blood on the two doorposts and on the crossbeam of the houses in which they would eat it. They ate the meat that night, roasted over a fire. With matzah and bitter herbs, they were to eat it (see Exodus 12:6-8). Thus 135 connects matzah with the Passover lamb and the bitter herbs of the Seder meal.

But there is something even more amazing! At the Passover Seder, it is traditional to separate three pieces of matzah and wrap them together. One explanation for the three pieces of matzah is that they refer to the three patriarchs: , , and . The second piece of matzah represents Isaac. In Genesis 22:2, the Lord says to Abraham: “Take your son, your only son whom you love -Isaac- and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains about which I will tell you” (Genesis 22:2, TLV, emphasis added).

The numerical value of “as a burnt offering” (olah) is 135 --the same as Mazah. This correlation is profound because Isaac is a type of in that he was The Seder Plate offered as a sacrifice by his father. He even carried the wood for that sacrifice, like Yeshua-Jesus carried the cross. At the Seder meal, the middle piece of matzah is broken in a particular way. It becomes known as the Afikomen, which is called the bread of healing and redemption. Like that “middle matzah” (135), our Messiah was broken for us and, as a type of “burnt offering” (135), sacrificed for our healing and redemption.

1 But of course, there is more! One of the most quoted Messianic prophecies in the New Covenant is from Psalm 118:22, which says, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” This passage prophesies how Israel and her leaders will reject the Messiah. “Cornerstone” in Hebrew is pinah and has a value of 135. The matzah (135), which is known as the “bread of affliction,” is a picture of the rejected Messiah Yeshua who became “the chief cornerstone,” which equals 135.

There is still more! The numeric value of the Hebrew words “to make Him king” and "Kingdom" both equal 135. The “Cornerstone” (135) was rejected to “make Him King” (135) and establish His Kingdom (135).

The word “glory” in Greek (doxa) also equals 135. Messiah Yeshua is the “Chief Cornerstone,” (135) who was “made King” (135). To Him belongs the “Kingdom” (135) and the glory (135) for all eternity! Let us join with the “assembly” (135) around the Lord’s throne and declare with them, “Blessing and honor and glory/doxa (135) and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the [Passover] Lamb, forever and ever!” (see Revelation 5:13). He is worthy of our worship and devotion.

2 NEW TESTAMENT TIE-IN

The word “quarantine” has probably dominated news stories more in the first quarter of 2020 than at any other time in the last one hundred years. As the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic occupies our collective consciousness, concerns of contagion are understandably common. Later on, in the book of Leviticus, we’ll see regulations concerning the spread of infectious disease, most famously, leprosy. Lepers were quarantined to keep the community safe, and anyone who came in contact with them would be considered “unclean.”

Consider then, the radical action of Yeshua-Jesus in the Gospels: “A man with tzara’at comes to Him, begging Him and falling on his knees, saying, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Moved with compassion, Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him. He said, ‘I am willing. Be cleansed.’ Immediately, the tzara’at left him, and he was cleansed” (Mark 1:40-42 TLV). This healing is radical because while He “violates” the Law of in other instances— such as healing on — in this case, the Lord also places Himself at risk physically. He touched the contagious and unclean man

How can this be? For starters, Yeshua-Jesus was God incarnate, but something else may be at play here that relates to this week’s Torah portion. Not only did Yeshua-Jesus not become unclean by contact with the infected man, but the leper was also immediately made clean. Now consider the words of Leviticus 6:11, “Every male among the children of Aaron may eat [the matzah of the grain offering], as their portion forever throughout your generations from the offerings of Adonai made by fire. Whoever touches them will become holy.”

One interpretation of this passage sounds a lot like what we just read about Yeshua-Jesus and the leper: “What is involved, then, is an idea some scholars have described as a ‘contagion’ of holiness symmetrical with the more common idea of a contagion of impurity.”¹

What if this detail hinting at “contagious holiness” that is tucked away in the regulations of the grain offering points to the Bread of Life (that Afikomen described above) who was the true High Priest? What if the leper was made clean and holy not merely because of God’s power but because that power which had been hidden behind the veil now “became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood” (see John 1:14 in The Message)?

This is not a time for recklessness or civil disobedience, but it most certainly is a time to remind ourselves that we worship the God who cannot be infected! We walk with the One whose power and purity are more contagious than any sickness or disease.

¹, The Five Books of Moses a Translation and Commentary, (New York: Norton, 2004), 566.

3 BY THE NUMBERS

This upcoming Shabbat is very special and is known as Shabbat HaGadol, the “Great Sabbath.” On the first Shabbat HaGadol, God commanded the Children of Israel to set aside the Passover lamb that would eventually be slain to spare them from the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn.

Passover (Pesach) has the numerical value of 148, which is the same numerical value of netzach which means "strength and victory." The Passover offering (148) gave Israel the divine strength (148) to be victorious (148) over and the gods of Egypt. It is no coincidence that Egyptians worshiped the lamb as one of their primary gods. Slaying the Passover (148) lamb (which was the sign of the Zodiac during the month of Israel’s redemption) demonstrated the strength/netzach (148) of the God of Israel to be victorious/netzach (148) over the spiritual principalities and powers of Egypt. Other significant words that have the numerical value of 148 are iniquity, plague, promise, and children of God. Alternatively, in specific contexts, netzach conveys the concept of "eternity" in addition to victory. What is the co connection between all these words that equal 148...?

“1 4 8” Hebrew & Greek are “alphanumeric” letters = numbers Messiah died at Passover (148)… for the iniquity (148) of Israel and the nations… so that we might be saved and experience victory (148)… over the plague (148) of and death… extending the promise (148) that eternity (148) is now available… to as many as believe in Him, becoming children of God (148)!

“Yeshua our Passover” has won the victory for you – don’t remain stuck! It’s time to come out of Egypt, for the one whom the Son sets free is free indeed!

4 THOUGHTS for REFLECTION

Take some time this week to prayerfully consider and discuss with friends: § It’s so easy to take the sacrifice of Yeshua-Jesus for granted. As the true Afikomen –that hidden, broken matzah (our Isaac!) – His death has brought us abundant life. Set aside 15 minutes each day this week to list three blessings His sacrifice has brought into your life and then worship Him. At the end of the week, you’ll have twenty-one blessings and precious worship time with the Lord! § Is there someone close to you still living in the bondage of Egypt as a slave to sin? This Passover is a season to bring their name before God, our Deliverer and Redeemer. The Lamb of God has taken away the sin of the world – pray that they will receive the grace to be raised with Him and walk in newness of life!

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS:

Special Shabbat Passover Reading: Exodus 33:23-34:26 Numbers 28:19-25

Prophetic Reading (): 37:1-14

New Covenant Reading Matthew 26:17-30 John 13-36

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