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Drash
for Shabbat Tzav/HaGadol As we continue our journey through the Book of Vayikra, Parshat Tzav provides further details on the specifics of making sacrifices and offerings. The parsha describes in great detail the types of sacrifices made, as well as the prohibitions and restrictions against eating the burnt offerings. In Leviticus Chapters 7 and 8 we learn about the various types of offerings, which include the High Priest's Daily Meal Offering, the Guilt Offering, the Peace-Offering and the Offer of Thanksgiving. After the destruction of the Second Temple, we no longer use burnt offerings as a means of repentance, thanks or prayer. As a vegetarian, although I am happy that we no longer sacrifice animals, I find it interesting to look at what these practices meant, and what we can now do in their place to illustrate the same dedication and intentions. The High Priest's Daily Meal Offering, as described in Leviticus Chapter 6, Verses 12 through 16, obligates Aaron to bring a daily meal-offering every day. According to the Hertz Chumash, he was to do this at his own expense, on behalf of the entire priesthood. In modern times, I think that means that our Kohein leader, Rabbi Cohon, is supposed to buy us lunch. Or, another interpretation is that our spiritual leaders also make sacrifices, both in time and resources, on our behalf as part of their commitment to their congregants. I'm sure we have all experienced these sacrifices, with late-night or weekend emergency calls to our rabbis when needed, or looking at the enormous amount of time and energy our rabbis put into Temple programming and worship. Although we no longer perform these rituals anymore, it is interesting to note that the intentions behind the offerings are still relevant. According to Rabbi Bradley Artson's The Everyday Torah, the word choice of Torah in the parsha is significant. Rabbi Artson explains that the wording could have simply said, "These are the rules." Instead, in Chapter 7, Verse 2, the wording is Vizot Torah HaOlah, this is the law of the burnt-offering. The choice of the word "Torah", which can be translated as teaching or instruction, according to Talmud sage Resh Lakish, tells us that reading and studying something can actually represent doing it. This concept allows us to practice the intentions of the burnt offerings, through prayer, volunteering, contributions and dedication. Although I'm sure many of us are familiar and quite practiced with the concept of guilt, for example, we can look at the intention of the guilt offering, which was to be offered along with restitution. The Thanksgiving Offering was intended to show gratitude for deliverance from illness or danger. We can certainly make financial sacrifices, or contributions of time and energy to our own congregation as a show of thanks and appreciation. On this Shabbat HaGadol, I invite you to look at areas in your life in which you can express your thanks and gratitude. Shabbat Shalom.
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