Tzav

📜 The Story

Parashat Tzav continues teaching the kohanim, the priests, how to bring the offerings in the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. The name Tzav means 'command,' because Moshe commands Aharon and his sons about their important job.

The Torah describes the burnt offering that stayed on the altar all through the night, and the fire that had to keep burning on the altar without ever going out. The famous verse says, 'A permanent fire shall burn on the altar, it shall not go out.' Every morning the kohen wore special garments and cleared away the ashes from the altar.

Next the parasha teaches about the meal offering made of fine flour and oil, the sin offering that brings forgiveness for mistakes, and the guilt offering. There is also the peace offering, and inside it a special thanksgiving offering brought when someone wants to thank Hashem for a miracle, and forty loaves of bread came together with it.

At the end of the parasha we read how Moshe consecrates Aharon and his sons to become kohanim. He dresses them in the priestly garments, anoints them with the special anointing oil, and offers the ram of inauguration. Moshe places some of the blood on the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe of Aharon and his sons.

For seven days Aharon and his sons stay at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and do not leave, a great preparation for the eighth day, when they would begin serving in the Mishkan for real. The parasha teaches us how important it is to do every single thing carefully and with respect, because that is how we honor Hashem.