Nine Points from the Parasha: Parashat Tzav

1. Saying thank you - When a person is in trouble and he makes it out safely, he needs to bring a special Korban called Korban Todah. In the future, when nobody will commit sins, we will only have the Korban Toda available to give. This is because the sense of gratitude is eternal, and is something that we always need to develop. We should never take things for granted and be aware of our surroundings. Rav Nachman of Breslov says that now that we do not have sacrifices, we have to thank HaShem with our mouth and heart. When we do these things, it represents joy, as opposed to tribulations and sadness. The more we see things in a grateful perspective, the more we lower the bitterness and difficulties in life.

2. Keep your fire lit - The Pasuk says regarding the elevation offering, “And the fire of the altar should be kept aflame on it all night until the morning.” The Lubavitcher Rebbe says that this fire burns in every person's heart, and it too needs to be kept aflame constantly, as it is that fire that drives us to serve our creator and do what’s right. However, just like the fire on the altar, the fire needs to be actively kept alive. One needs to add wood to the fire and to increase its flame, because it will not stay lit by itself. It is our responsibility to fuel ourselves to keep our energy going and to constantly be determined to fulfill our G-d given mission. Once someone asked the Lubavitcher Rebbe how he felt, and he responded that he was happy, but not satisfied. We can never be satisfied, as we would be extinguishing our fire, so to speak. Also, like how fire has many colors in it, we too should use different tactics to be motivated in any case we might find ourselves, as long as we keep consistent.

3. The reason for the sacrifices - The Rambam says that the reason HaShem commanded us to offer sacrifices was to help the Jewish people  stay away from idol worship. If HaShem would have told them to serve him without any sacrifices, they would not have listened to HaShem and not serve Hashem at all. The only way they could serve HaShem is by having some substitute for the non Jewish people’s form of worship. The Nachmanidies criticizes the Rambam’s explanation, and offers a different reason. He says that when one offers a sacrifice, he sees the animals and it’s physical similarities to him. He thinks to himself, “This was really supposed to be me, as I committed a crime against HaShem.” This leads him to do Teshuvah for his acts. We can learn from the first explanation of the Rambam that we should try our best to accommodate people's wants, and to find ways to compromise. It’s better to give in a bit then to not be able to work together at all. There is no way to fully go against someone’s wants and to continue to cooperate healthily. We have to work with each other, not against each other.

4. Korban Shlamim - The Korban Shlamim, which literally means “the peace offering,” is offered when someone experiences a miracle and is in order to thank HaShem for it. This Korban is cleverly designed to publicize HaShem’s miracles. For the Korban Shlamim, one needs to offer a lot of meat, and he is obligated to finish it all on the day and following night that he sacrificed it. Because it is so much, anyone who offers it will most definitely invite his friends and family to celebrate with him so that he can finish it all in it’s small amount of time. Those that he invites will ask him why he is celebrating, and he will recount all the miracles that happened to him. This is why the Gemara says whenever someone gives Korban Shlamim, he brings peace to the world. Another reason why it is called Shlamim is because it is the only Korban that everyone gets something from it. Part is fully burned on the altar, part is given to the Kohanim, and the rest is given to the owner. Rabbi Hirsch says that Shalem represents true perfection. Perfection does not mean to get along with someone without some sort of dispute between them. It means that you work as a team, and there is internal harmony. He is thanking HaShem because he wants to be close to HaShem.

5. Is being vegan a good thing? - It's mentioned in the Torah four times in different places, once in our Parsha, and three more times in Chumash Devarim, that a Jew may not eat blood. There are many reasons for this commandment. The Rambam says that in those days, they used to eat blood thinking that through that, they would become friendly with the demons so that they would tell him the future. The Torah tells that we have nothing against blood, in fact we even use blood for some of our holiest services. But, like many things we safeguard from idol worship, also here we do. But, the Ramban says the reason why we do not eat blood is because blood carries life, so to speak. Therefore, if we allow people to eat blood, they will not respect life. So, according to what the Ramban says, the reason is to respect all living beings. Rav Cook explains based on this that this is a hidden rebuke for those who eat meat in general. Eating meat is a compromise for the weakness of a person that did not get over their urge to kill. The purpose of refraining from eating blood is to accustom him to refrain from killing any living being. Based on Rav Cook, veganism is actually a good thing.

6. Be humble - Every morning, the Kohen comes to the Beit HaMikdash. After putting on his special garments, he removes the ashes accumulated from all the sacrifices consumed by the fire throughout the whole night. Why is this the first thing we make the Kohen clean? The Chovat HaLevavot says that the Torah did not want the Kohanim’s high positions to go to their heads. Perhaps one of them may think that they are better than everyone else, so their first job  if the day is a humbling one. This teaches us a very important lesson. When we get a high position, we should always remind ourselves that we are really “Afar Ve Efer” “Dust and Ashes”. Despite this, we should never forget that the world was also really made for us, the Jewish people.

7. Be diligent - Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai says in the Gemara that the word Tzav means to be diligent. Why do we have to be diligent? The answer is that here we have חסרון כיס, a lacking in your pocket, meaning to say a loss of money. The Gerer Rebbe says that we can also explain that  כיס means cover, as all the limbs of the body has a cover, except for the brain. One can pinch his nose, block his ears, and close his mouth and eyes. However, one cannot control what enters his thoughts. Therefore, it takes a lot of strength to think of good things.

8. Even the simplest Jew helps - We sing in Zemirot Shabbat “KeMincha Al Machvat” “Like and offering on a pot.” Why do we mention a pot? There are 5 different types of Menachot, what is so special with the pot? Reb Eliyahu Milupian says that the pot offering is very dry, and therefore the fire even burns the oil. This teaches us that even the most simplest Jew that keeps Shabbat is considered to HaShem like a Mincha.

9. Giving without seeing the results - The Parasha starts with “Tzav et Aharon.”  Tzav is a commandment. The Gemara in Kiddushin teaches us that the verb Tzav indicates that Moshe was supposed to urge Am Yisrael to follow his instructions. The Gemara explains that urging is necessary in instances that strain a person financially. Portions of all other Korbannot were eaten, either by the owner, the Cohanim, or both. Parashat Tzav begins with a discussion of Korban Olah, which is burnt in its entirety on the Altar, with no meat being eaten by the owner or the Kohanim. Knowing the considerable financial strain of buying a bull, which can cost a large sum of money, and then watching the entire thing go up in flames on the Altar might be too difficult for people to bear. HaShem felt that Moshe Rabbeinu had to urge Am Yisrael to bring the Korban Olah. If we take a tour through the Jewish calendar year, we find that many Mitzvot are expensive. On Pesach you have to spend a small fortune on Matzot, wine, meat, and all the other foods that triple in price in honor of Yom Tov. Sukkot with the costs of the Lulauv and Etrog. Plain Tefillin that are considered Mehudar can run in the thousand-dollar range. And we haven't even begun to talk about tuition for Yeshivot. There is no question - being Jewish is an expensive proposition. There is one major difference between Orlah and the rest of the Mitzvot, Orlah you can not see the results of it, but with other Mitzvot you can. Every experienced fundraiser will tell you that it is relatively easy to raise money for a building campaign, because you can show people where their money is going. Many Mitzvot cost money, but there is something to show for the money spent. An Orlah offers no such satisfaction. The owner watches the entire thing literally go up in smoke. The financial strain is magnified in the owner's mind as he watches his Korban burn, and he might decide to refrain from bringing the Orlah offering in the future. HaShem told Moshe to use the term tzav to prevent such an eventuality. The Mishnat Yaabetz says that it is a great Mitzvah to give money to poor people because you don't see fully where the money is going, especially before Pesach.

A Special Message About Purim From Our Rabbi

Dear friends and members of Etz Ahaim,

This coming Thursday is Taanit Esther. The custom is to give Zecher LeMachatzit HaShekel. This year, it’s about eight dollars. We’ll have a basket in the main sanctuary for each one to put the money in this basket. The money will be used for our shul and for the charity fund.

Secondly, the Mitzvah of Matanot LaEvyonim is fulfilled by giving money to two poor people so that they should use the money on Purim for whatever he might be missing. Our sages recommend that Matanot LaEvyonim should be the amount of money enough to buy a basic meal (about 8 dollars). All those who would like may give me their money for Matanot LaEvyonim before Purim, and I will give them to those who need on Purim itself.

(NOTE: You can do this by contributing online to the Rabbi’s Charity Fund at https://www.etzahaim.org/donate-to-the-rabbis-charity-fund)

This Shabbat is a very special Shabbat, as it is the Shabbat before Purim. We will be reading Parashat Zachor. It is very important to hear this Parasha and to remember what the Amalekites did to us, especially in our days, when Amalek still continues to wreak havoc. Please come and bring your family. We will also sing before opening the ark the special Sephardic “Mi El Kamocha” that we say once a year before Purim.

By the request of many women in the community, we will have two readings of the Megilah so that we won’t be too pressed for time. We will have one at 8:15 PM and another at 9:30 PM. Also on Purim day we will have two readings: one at 7:30 AM as part of the minyan, and one at 9:30 AM.

I wish you all a meaningful and easy fast, and Purim Sameach.

Rabbi Tal