Teaching Jewish Roots
A Drop of Light from Zion

SHABBAT AND FEASTS

[not proofread]

Parashat Tzav – Lev. 6:8-8:36

(Haftarah – Jer. 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23 / Shabbat Parah– Ezekiel 36:16-38)

Shabbat shalom, my dear friends.

Leviticus 5 and 6 are numbered differently in Hebrew, compared to the English. Chapter 5 has 25 verses, which include the first 7 verses from the English Chapter 6; Chapter 6 in Hebrew begins with the English Chapter 6:8. Thus, the name of this Torah portion (“Command”) is from Lev. 6:2 in Hebrew. In English, it’s Lev. 6:9: “Command Aaron and his sons…” From here on, all our references will be following the English numbering. (Chapter 7 is the same in both languages.)

What was the first command? “This is the law for the burnt offering….” (v. 9) The Hebrew word for this offering is olah, literally an “ascending” sacrifice. Also, the word “law” here should be translated “teaching” (it’s not hok ha-olah, but torat ha-olah). In fact, every time the word “law” appears in this Torah portion, we need to think “educational tool” instead of “legal obligation.”

The olah is an illustration to teach us what is supposed to be happening spiritually: the one who worships is directing his inner being upward to draw near to our Father in Heaven.

This teaching includes three other symbols. First was Aaron’s obligation to keep the olah offering continually burning, by renewing it every evening (Lev. 6:9) and every morning (v. 12). The second one (v. 10-12) was to treat the ashes from this offering with great reverence, wearing one set of garments to remove them from the altar, and another set to dispose of them in a “clean” place (more accurately, “pure” – tahor). And the final one was repeated five times (v. 9, 12, 13) for emphasis: its fire was never to go out.

We have many hints at the great miracle being portrayed in this continually repeating solemn ceremony. The Maker of Heaven and earth took the initiative to make Himself accessible to us. But we must take the initiative to “ascend to the hill of the LORD” with pure hearts and hands (Ps. 24:3-4), joyfully wearing “garments of salvation” provided by the LORD (Isa. 61:10). On the other hand, we must remember with humility what a marvel it is for creatures made of “dust and ashes” to commune with the Eternal One (Gen. 18:27).

Elsewhere, this offering is called olat ha-tamid, “the always-ascending” sacrifice (Exod. 29:42, Num. 28:3, 6). How long is “always”? In the rebuilt Temple at the End of Days, the olat tamid will still be required (Ezek. 46:15).

The lesson: We are to continually nurture this upward connection, day and night, always. King David declared his intention to do exactly that: “I have set the LORD continually [tamid] before me.” (Ps. 16:8) He understood that the benefit of this connection is also continual – extending to life beyond the grave: “Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; You will not allow Your holy one to undergo decay. You will make known to me the way of life.” (v. 9-11)

It’s no coincidence that the olah is commanded as the first offering. We see the same priority elsewhere (Exod. 29:38, Exod. 40:29, Num. 28:3, 1 Chron. 16:1, Ezra 3:3). No matter what other offerings were placed on the altar, the tamid had to be there as a foundation for them – from the holiday sacrifices (Num. 28 and 29) to the poor man’s grain offering (Lev. 5:11-12). Even the sin offering, which was boiled and eaten rather than burned, had to make contact with the blood of the olah: “In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, the sin offering shall be slaughtered before the LORD.” (Lev. 6:25)

Next comes the “law” of the grain offering (torat ha-minha). This accompanied the above-mentioned olah, and every other offering by fire (see Num. 28). But while the olah was to be completely burned to ashes, most of the minha was given to the priests to eat (Lev. 6:18). The grain was ground to a fine flour, oil and incense were added to the handful to be burned (v. 15), and the rest was made into unleavened cakes to be eaten in the Tent courtyard (v. 16). Three times (v. 16, 17, 18) the holiness of the minha is emphasized, and twice the LORD says He is sharing it with the sons of Aaron.

In contrast, a minha tamid was required from each priest, starting from the day he was anointed (v. 20). Like the lambs for the olah, this offering was repeated twice a day (v. 20) and was completely burned on the altar (v. 22-23).

An especially interesting teaching is Lev. 7:11-20: the “peace offering” (Heb: shlamim, which actually means “completions”). This offering was optional. It could be further designated as a “thanks” offering (todah), the payment of a “vow” (neder), or a “voluntary” gift (nedavah). Among its other distinctions, the shlamim was accompanied by three kinds of unleavened cakes, all drenched with oil (v. 12) – plus leavened bread (v. 13), which was not burned on the altar (see Lev. 2:11-12) but was given to the priest (Lev. 7:14). The meat itself was eaten by the worshipper (and probably his family). However, there was a strict time limit for this feast: the todah (v. 15) must be eaten the same day, and the others (v. 16-17) before three days had passed. If that deadline was disregarded, the offering would bring punishment instead of blessing (v. 18).

We don’t have space to explore everything these details can teach us. The most obvious lesson is that our thanksgiving to the Creator should be offered on the day we see His goodness. “It is good to give thanks to the LORD… to declare Your goodness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.” (Ps. 92:1-2) Jewish custom mandates a private prayer of thanks to be repeated each morning, for “the LORD’s acts of mercy indeed do not end… they are new every morning” (Lam. 3:22-23).

The Scriptures speak of public “sacrifices of thanksgiving,” where the worshippers bring their offerings in order to “tell of His works with joyful singing…. They shall also exalt Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him at the seat of the elders.” (Ps. 107:22, 32)

Those who have been saved from danger are especially eager to proclaim their thanks: “What shall I repay to the LORD for all His benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people!… You have unfastened my restraints. I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the LORD.” (Ps. 116:12-17)

These verses confirm that the “sacrifice of thanksgiving” which the Holy One really desires is not the animal after all, but rather the voice of His people calling on Him:

“I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are continually before Me. I will not take a bull from your house, nor male goats from your folds…. If I were hungry, I would not tell you – for the world is Mine, and everything it contains. Shall I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of male goats? Offer GOD a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High! Call upon Me on the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.” (Ps. 50:8-15)

Those among the nations who love the Creator will also make offerings that are acceptable to Him:

“’’For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place frankincense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name shall be great among the nations,’ says the LORD of armies.” (Mal. 1:11)

“Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD… I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” (Isa. 56:6-7)

As GOD brings the people of Israel back to the Land of their fathers, they are learning to again offer up the todah that He desires: “’…the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, “Give thanks to the LORD of armies, for the LORD is good, for His mercy is everlasting” – as they bring a thanksgiving offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD.” (Jer. 33:11)

Many believers in the Creator from around the world are joining in His program of restoring Israel, as the prophets foretold. Notice that this holy activity is regarded as a kind of minha: “They shall bring all your countrymen from all the nations as a grain offering to the LORD… to My holy mountain Jerusalem… just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.” (Isa. 66:20).

All those who love GOD can discover many other spiritual illustrations and instructions in the “laws” of the sacrifices. May our understanding increase as we meditate on His holy Word.

Be blessed by the Most High from the Land of Zion and Jerusalem, and from the house of good deeds,

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Mordechai ben Yakov

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