Tzav

Binding every mitzvah to Torah· Essay 2

"This is the law (toras) of the olah…" "This is the law of the chatas…" "the asham" (Vayikra 6-7). The Sefas Emes notes that each korban is introduced with the word "toras" (the Torah/law of), which he will expound to mean that the deeper p…

The heart's continual fire of love· Essay 3

And in Rashi of blessed memory: "A continual fire shall burn" — the fire of which "continual" is stated, with which the lamps are kindled. The Sefas Emes opens from Rashi on "a continual fire shall burn upon the altar" (Vayikra 6:6), who co…

Burning away the heart's stray thoughts· Essay 1

"This is the law of the olah (burnt-offering)…" In the Midrash and in the Zohar: an evil thought is itself the "olah" — and it must be burned up. The Sefas Emes reads the burnt-offering not only as an animal on the mizbe'ach but as the inne…

Descent for the sake of ascent· Essay 2

"This is the law of the olah (burnt-offering)…" — the mitzvah of terumas hadeshen (the removal of the ashes). The Sefas Emes opens with the verse introducing the olah, which the Torah connects to the mitzvah of removing the ashes from the a…

Mitzvah-candle versus Torah-light that never dims· Essay 3

In the Zohar HaKadosh on the verse "A perpetual fire shall burn" (Vayikra 6:6): for it is written, "A mitzvah is a candle and the Torah is light" (Mishlei 6:23). The Sefas Emes opens with the Zohar's reading of the "perpetual fire" on the M…

Burning away dross reveals inner holiness· Essay 2

The mitzvah of terumas hadeshen (the removal of the ashes): for according to the measure in which the refuse is burned, The Sefas Emes draws a lesson from the mitzvah of removing the ashes of the altar: the burning away of the "refuse" is i…

Drawing Torah's light into physical mitzvos· Essay 3

In the Zohar HaKadosh on "a perpetual fire shall burn…": a sin does not extinguish Torah, but it does extinguish a mitzvah. The Sefas Emes begins from the Zohar's teaching that the "perpetual fire" of the mizbe'ach alludes to Torah, whose f…

The fire of Torah consumes the yetzer hara· Essay 2

On the verse "It is the olah-offering on its pyre (mokdah)" (Vayikra 6:2): in the Midrash, the olah comes [as atonement] for the sinful thoughts of the heart (hirhur ha'lev); and likewise in the Zohar HaKadosh, an evil thought that "rises u…

Daily counsels to ignite the inner spark· Essay 3

"And the kohen shall burn wood upon it" (Vayikra 6:5). The Sefas Emes takes the daily mitzvah of feeding wood to the altar fire as the springboard for his idea. The holy seforim explained: to seek each day various eitzos (counsels/strategie…

The perpetual fire of devotion in the heart· Essay 1

On the verse: "This is the olah on its firewood… and he shall burn upon it… wood… a perpetual fire shall burn…" (Vayikra 6:2-6) The Torah describes the korban olah burning on the altar through the night, with fresh wood added and an eish ta…

Love covers the inner sin· Essay 2

In the Midrash: "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers over all transgressions" (Mishlei 10:12). The Sefas Emes opens with the verse that love has the power to cover and atone for sins, and he will explain how this works within Bnei Yisra…

Burning away the intrusive thought in avodah· Essay 1

"This is the law of the olah (burnt-offering): it is the olah" (Vayikra 6:2). The Sefas Emes notes the seemingly redundant phrasing "it is the olah," which invites a deeper reading. In the Zohar HaKadosh: "it is the olah" refers to an evil …

Enduring Merit of the Korbanos· Essay 2

Concerning the mitzvah of Terumas HaDeshen (the removal of the ashes), [a portion] of which would be absorbed beside the Mizbeach — to show that the merit (zechus) of the korbanos remains enduring for [all] generations. Each day a portion o…

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 holida…