Tzav – Peninim on the Torah

Moshe took the oil of anointment… he anointed the Altar, and all its utensils, and the laver and its base in order to sanctify them. (8:10.11)

Moshe anointed Aharon and his sons, as he inducted them into the Kehunah. He also anointed all of the holy utensils that were used in the Mishkan. The process of anointing elevated the utensils to a level of sanctity in accordance with their function in the Mishkan. It makes sense that a ladle, that heretofore had been a piece of metal and now would be used to accept the blood of korbanos, would need to be prepared and sanctified for its new station. There seems to be a demand for all vessels to be anointed – even those that did…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5759

Moshe did as Hashem commanded him; and the assembly was gathered. (8:4)

The Kotzker Rebbe, zl, once interpreted this pasuk satirically. We see from here that Moshe first followed Hashem’s command, fulfilling everything that was asked of him. It is only afterwards that the people assembled before him. Regrettably, today we assemble before some of our “spiritual” leaders before they have proven their devotion to Torah and mitzvos. Being a spiritual leader carries with it specific and demanding criteria, the most significant of which is adherence to Torah and mitzvos. Tragically, some of us are not that demanding of our spiritual leaders. Perhaps, we feel that if we limit our expectations of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5759

Take Aharon and his sons with him…He poured from the oil of anointment upon Aharon’s head…Moshe brought the sons of Aharon forward. (8:1,12,13)

Hashem commanded Moshe to sanctify and induct Aharon and his sons into the Kehunah, Priesthood. Hashem chose Aharon and his four sons – Moshe’s brother and his four nephews – over everyone to serve in the holy Priesthood. We can understand why some people might question the choice of Moshe’s close relatives. Let us understand why Amram and Yocheved merited to have such special children and grandchildren: Moshe, Aharon and Miriam and their offspring who stood at Klal Yisrael’s helm. What was their unique zechus, merit? Why was Aharon selected to be Kohen Gadol and progenitor of the Kehunah? We…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5759

This is the law of the elevation-offering, the meal-offering, the sin-offering, and the guilt-offering; and the inauguration-offering and the feast peace offering. (7:37)

The Midrash notes that the Korban Shelamim, Peace-offering, comes at the end of the sequence of korbanos. This implies that peace is of supreme significance, for it reconnects man with his Maker, with his fellow-man, and with his own conscience. Horav Eliyahu Munk, zl, explains that peace is neither a simple fact of creation nor a part of natural law. It is not a pacifistic doctrine to which one must adhere even at the expense of sacred principles. Peace is not, as some would suggest, a compromise of values and ideals; rather, it is a sense of harmony in which…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5759

The Kohen shall don his fitted linen tunic, and he shall don linen breeches on his flesh. (6:3)

The Kohen was to wear vestments made of “bad” – linen. Linen grows from the ground in individual stalks, similar to human hair. Rabbeinu Bachya explains that the individualistic nature of each grain signifies the concept of achdus, unity. They reflect an inner harmony, a unified essence. As the grandson of Aharon, the Kohen serves as the paradigm of unity. Aharon HaKohen was the “oheiv shalom v’rodef shalom,” one who loved peace and pursued peace.” He reached out to his fellow man to generate inner peace by bringing him closer to Torah. Horav Mordechai Miller, Shlita, notes that the Torah…

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Moshe took the oil of anointment… he anointed the Altar, and all its utensils, and the laver and its base in order to sanctify them. (8:10.11)

Moshe did as Hashem commanded him; and the assembly was gathered. (8:4)

Take Aharon and his sons with him…He poured from the oil of anointment upon Aharon’s head…Moshe brought the sons of Aharon forward. (8:1,12,13)

This is the law of the elevation-offering, the meal-offering, the sin-offering, and the guilt-offering; and the inauguration-offering and the feast peace offering. (7:37)

The Kohen shall don his fitted linen tunic, and he shall don linen breeches on his flesh. (6:3)

YEARS

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