Tzav Essay

Tzav
There’s nothing like starting something new at the beginning of the day. We know that feeling of waking up early knowing today something great is going to happen. Whether it’s a new project you are starting, going on holiday or a Simha etc. The morning is a magical time and sign of the rejuvenation of the world, a freshness and clarity that strengthens our belief in the existence of a higher power concerned for our wellbeing.
The mishkan was a microcosm of the entire world and everything in the world is paralleled there. When we look at the beginning of our parsha it starts with the first actions of the day. Surprisingly it is not setting a new pyre and starting a new fire, rather it is actually finishing off the process of the day before. This is the actions of terumat hadeshen removing the ashes of the sacrifices that had burnt all night long, from the mizbeach and placing them on the floor. Why is this the first action of the day that is mentioned?
The truth is that this does actually follow the structure of the world, for as we know the day follows the night. So too with the mizbeach the first actions of the day follow the last actions of the night.
In a deeper understanding of the concept the Sfas Emes explains that this reveals to us the purpose of the world. The light of the new dawn comes only after the darkness of the night. The first action of the korban is to uplift the ashes of the burnt part of the korban. So too in our endeavours, the pleasures of life, the happiness and light of life comes after the purification of the darkness.
The truth is that all we need to do is open ourselves up to the light. There is no darkness like self hate. When we despise ourselves or parts of us, we block off the light of bracha from entering our world. When we can’t forgive ourselves and we refuse to accept who we are, we close ourselves off from receiving the amazing goodness being handed out by haShem every second.
Once we can let go of these insecurities and embrace our whole self and the wholeness of every person we encounter we purify the darkness and welcome in the new day and the new beginnings.