Tzav

In this parsha

Tzav continues the laws of the offerings, now framed as instructions to the kohanim for their service. It describes the burnt offering left upon the altar through the night, the perpetual fire that must never be extinguished, and the daily removal of the ashes. Further detailed are the meal, sin, guilt, and peace offerings, including the thanksgiving offering, together with the prohibitions against consuming blood and forbidden fats. The parsha closes with the seven-day inauguration of Aharon and his sons, as Moshe anoints them and the Mishkan and offers the dedication sacrifices.

Themes

• The perpetual inner fire of love
• Burning away stray thoughts
• Two fires: love and zeal
• Zerizus and daily renewal
• Torah as the ascending offering
• Shalom, the vessel of blessing

Must-read teachings

1. 1The unquenchable fire of love in the Jewish heartIn the Midrash: "love covers over all transgressions" (Mishlei 10:12). The piece opens on the verse that love conceals all sins, which the Sefas Emes will tie to the eternal fire on the mizbe'ach and the fire of love in the Jewish heart. As…תרמ"ד
2. 2The perpetual fire of devotion in the heartOn 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…תר"מ
3. 3Two fires: illuminating love and consuming zealOn the pasuk, "a continual fire (aish tamid)" (Vayikra 6:6), Rashi explains: even the fire of the Menorah is to be kindled from the fire of the outer Mizbei'ach (altar). Rashi notes that even the Menorah's light had to be lit from the fire …תרנ"א
4. 4The fire of Torah consumes the yetzer haraOn 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…תרל"ז
5. 5Zerizus as giving Hashem priority"Tzav" denotes nothing but urging (ziruz), at once and for the generations. Rabbi Shimon said: the Torah needs to urge especially where there is a loss of money (Rashi; Toras Kohanim; Kiddushin 29a). The word "tzav" carries an extra charge …תרנ"ח
6. 6Torah Study as the Ascending Burnt-OfferingOn the verse, "This is the law of the olah (burnt-offering)... upon its flame (mokdah) all the night..." (Vayikra 6:2). The piece opens with the verse describing the olah burning on the altar's fire through the night. The Sefas Emes will re…תרמ"ו
7. 7Shelamim and Shabbos as peace through unionIn the Midrash: "And this is the law of the shelamim (peace-offering) sacrifice…" The Sefas Emes opens with the korban shelamim, whose very name (from "shalom") points to the theme of wholeness and peace. The descendants of Noach did not of…תרנ"א
8. 8The perpetual inner fire of ahavah and yirahOn the verse "This is the law of the olah-offering… a continual fire shall burn…" (Vayikra 6:2,6). The Sefas Emes builds his teaching on the mizbe'ach's "eish tamid" — the perpetual fire — reading it as a model for the inner fire that must …תרמ"ד