Tzav – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

“The Kohen shall don his fitted linen tunic…he shall separate the ash…and place it next to the Altar. He shall remove his garments and don other garments, and he shall remove the ash to the outside of the camp.” (6:3-4)

In the Talmud Yoma 23b, Chazal explain that the Kohen’s act of removing his garments was an act of derech eretz, good manners and courtesy. It is not proper for a servant to pour wine for his master while wearing the same garments that he wore when he was cooking the meal. Horav Mordechai Gifter, z.l., derives a powerful message from Chazal’s words. A human king has many servants, each performing a specific function. The cook prepares the food, restricting his area of expertise to the kitchen. In contrast, the king’s waiter is someone whose training, refinement and breeding benefit…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5760

“The fire on the Altar shall be kept aflame on it, do not extinguish it.” (6:5)

The literal translation of lo sichbeh is “do not extinguish it.” The Baal Ha’Tanya rendered an alternative interpretation for this phrase. “You must extinguish the lo, the negative, within you.” Negativism is an all-consuming destructive force which paralyzes an individual. How does one overcome a negative self-image? How does one develop self-esteem? It is not the intended goal of this book to serve as a psychological authority, or to offer advice for coping with one’s emotional deficiencies. Yet, culling from some of the popular Torah-oriented authorities will help us to address a problem whose severity has reached epidemic proportions. A…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Tzav, 5760

Moshe said to the assembly, “This is the thing that Hashem commanded to be done.” (8:5)

Rashi explains that Moshe Rabbeinu was telling the people that anointing Aharon and preparing him to serve as Kohen Gadol was not his own “idea.” He was following the instruction of the Almighty. Moshe was concerned that the people might suspect that he was acting either on his own behalf or on the behalf of his brother Aharon. He mitigated their concerns. While this may have “calmed” the people, Chazal relate that Moshe was still worried that he might personally benefit from the honor of investing Aharon into the Priesthood. This would constitute me’ilah, unlawfully benefiting from this holy endeavor….

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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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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

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

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

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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Moshe Marcovich In Tzav, 5758

He shall remove his garments and don other garments, and he shall remove the ash to the outside of the Camp, to a pure place. (6:4)

For practical purposes, the Kohen who cleans the excess ash from the Altar changes his garments. He removes his regular vestments and changes into older, more worn priestly garments. A number of lessons can be derived from this concept. The most notable is that one should appreciate the significance of dressing properly for an occasion. When one greets the king he should prepare himself, donning garments which befit royalty. Hence, when one greets Shabbos, or enters a sancturary, such as a Shul, he should dress in clothes that are appropriate to the sanctity of the place and the holiness of…

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Moshe Marcovich In Tzav, 5758

This is the korban of Aharon and his sons. (6:13)

The Midrash recounts that Rabbi Yosi bar Chalafta was once questioned regarding what Hashem has been doing from the time that He created the world. In this purely rhetorical question, the Midrash seeks to understand the values on which Hashem places greatest emphasis. They respond that Hashem occupies Himself with zivugim, making couples, pairing off people and also material possessions. “This woman to that man, this money/material possession to that man” are the words used by Chazal. Upon consideration, Chazal seem to imply that one’s material success or lack therof is a zivug similar to finding a mate. As in…

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“The Kohen shall don his fitted linen tunic…he shall separate the ash…and place it next to the Altar. He shall remove his garments and don other garments, and he shall remove the ash to the outside of the camp.” (6:3-4)

“The fire on the Altar shall be kept aflame on it, do not extinguish it.” (6:5)

Moshe said to the assembly, “This is the thing that Hashem commanded to be done.” (8:5)

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

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)

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)

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

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)

He shall remove his garments and don other garments, and he shall remove the ash to the outside of the Camp, to a pure place. (6:4)

This is the korban of Aharon and his sons. (6:13)

YEARS

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