Light My Fire - Reflections on Parshat Tzav 5778

(Lev: 6:1-9:26)

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: Command Aaron and his sons as follows – this is the law of the Olah, the Elevation Offering, on the altar pyre, all night until morning, and the fire of the altar should be lit [at all times].” (Lev: 6:1-2)

“The language employed here, “Tzav” which means “command,” implies alacrity - now and for all generations.”  (Rashi on v.1)

Last week's parsha dealt with the Sacrificial Offerings from the perspective of the celebrant, as the verse states: “Any person among you who wishes to bring an offering...”  This week's parsha discusses the same offerings, but from the perspective of the Cohanim (priests), instructing them on the specifics of how these sacrifices shall be offered. (Ramban)

Rashi suggests that the Cohanim had to be reminded to act with alacrity in performing the sacrificial service; as if, without the warning, they might not have done so. And, Rashi adds, now and for all generations to follow.

Many of the mitzvot (commandments) that are taught in the Book of Leviticus are not for the Cohanim alone; they apply to us all. After all, we Jews are Mamlechet Cohanim v'Goy Kadosh, a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation. And we have been given a Code of 613 Commandments, mitzvot, (from the word root Tzav). 

Sometimes, we lapse into a lackluster performance of the mitzvot. We're tired, we're hungry, we're preoccupied with our own headaches and worries; and our Service to G-d becomes rote, suffering both in quality and quantity.

Encoded in the word mitzvah is Rashi's lesson: it's not enough to merely do the mitzvot;  we must do them with passion, with excitement, with energy and with zeal. Anything less is a flaw in our Worship of G-d.

I remember being eleven, going off to sleep away camp for the first time. A whole month away from home! The night before camp started I was so excited I couldn't fall asleep. And when the alarm rang, I flew out of bed, overflowing with energy and enthusiasm. 

Doesn't our mitzvah performance deserve the same attitude of excitement?

To paraphrase our verse: “Light a fire under it.”   

Shabbat Shalom.