Chassidut on the Torah
The week of Tzav 5762
Overview
(Leviticus
6:1-8:36) Tzav focuses on the Tabernacle offerings. The parsha begins by
describing the service done with the ashes of the burnt offering. This is
followed by the laws of the meal offering, the high priest’s offering, the laws
of the sin offerings, guilt offerings, and peace offerings. The portion then
discusses the priests’ portion of the offerings and the installation of the priests
into their service.
Insights
The Rebbe often spoke about the
word ‘avoda’(service), referring to both the service of the High Priest on Yom
Kippur and to our day-to-day work. Each Jew symbolizes a miniature temple and every
aspect of our lives, even the simple and mundane, has a holy and spiritual
purpose. Similarly, every single task in the Temple was of utmost
importance. Why then were the priests commanded to change into less important
clothing when they removed the ashes from the altar to outside of the Temple
area (6/4)? Rashi gives two explanations: Firstly, so that the priests
should not dirty their priestly garments, and secondly, “The clothing with
which you cook for your master, should not be the same garments worn when
pouring his cup.”
But as a matter of
fact, there were several different Temple activities during which a priest
would soil his clothing: slaughtering the offering, the passing of the blood,
the throwing of the blood, etc. Why was removal of the ashes singled out? For this quandary, Rashi
provides the second explanation. Stains accumulated by service performed in the
presence of the Master are not considered dirt, but rather part of the service.
However, the dirt derived from preparing for the eventual service, like cooking
the food, etc., and not in the Master’s presence is considered filth.
And thus the requirement to change clothes.
If the removal of
the ash was considered inferior to the other services, why then was the priest
on duty required to perform it? Why not let a less qualified priest do it? Because this is precisely the message.
The Torah is teaching us that a Jew serves G-d not only with the apparent
‘holy’ actions such as Kiddush or the Seder of Passover, but also with all the
simple and mundane actions that help us get there, like taking out the garbage
or cleaning the house for Pesach.
This is the point
of the Talmudic story of Rabbi Chiya, (Ketubos 103/b) who not only had
the exalted mitzvah of teaching young children holy words of Torah; but also, he
himself prepared all of the teaching materials, like the parchment for the
scrolls, etc.! The Talmud declares, “How great was the work of Rabbi Chiya!”
There is another
important lesson here; A person
may consider himself as a priest, spending time in his holy temple, improving
the world from his place – but to actually go outside into the mundane is not
for him; that is for others on a lower level. Here, is precisely where the commandment comes to instruct
us: “He shall then take off his
garments and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp…” (Leviticus 6:1-4), that the priest was required to leave the holy Temple and change his
garments. And in exactly this same
way, through our proper attitudes and actions, we will cause the Holy One
Blessed Be He to take each and every Jew by the hand out of the exile and bring
us to the final redemption. Shabbat Shalom, Shaul
For
the 5th year, Ascent
is asking you to contribute to our Pesach campaign for needy immigrants. It is
gratifying that many people have already sent in funds, even before being
asked. This year’s budget will be over $20,000. Our Israel address is above.
USA: Rm 28, 383 Kingston Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213. England: 3 Sunny Gardens
Parade, NW4. Thank you in advance for your consideration and assistance.