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Parashat Tzav
Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36

Topics (click on any link)
Synopsis of the Torah portion
Spiritual insights into Parashat Tzav
Key verses
Creative Midrash for Parashat Tzav


Synopsis                        return to top of page
Tzav defines the details of the burnt offerings, the guilt offerings and the freewill offerings and concludes with the process of ordaining the priests.

Chapter 6
In the previous parasha, we're given the instructions for the sacrifices. Now we are given a description of the ritual of the offering. The first is the burnt offering. We learn that the offering is to remain where it was burned on the altar all night and the fire is never to go our. It is to be a perpetual fire. In the case of the meal offering, only a handful is offered on the fire. Aaron and his sons may eat what is left; it is to contain no leaven and only Aaron’s descendants may eat of it. A special offering of meal on the occasion of a priest’s annointment shall be entirely consumed by the fire.

The sin offering shall be slaughtered on the same spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered: it is most holy. The priestly line may eat of it and whatever touches it shall become holy.

Chapter 7
The guilt offering is described next. The guilt offering is like the sin offering. The remains of the offering, whether it be animal or meal, shall go to the priest who makes the expiation. The ritual of well-being sacrifice can either be offered either for thanksgiving or for freewill, the difference lies with when the remainder of the sacrifices is consumed by the priests. The Torah digresses a bit to discuss states of uncleanness, with the intent that the flesh of the sacrifices may not be eaten by anyone who is unclean. Once more the Torah elaborates the importance of not eating the fat or the blood of sacrificial animals. well-being offerings must be brought to the priest by the person who offers the sacrifice. He brings the fat and the breast. The fat is consumed in the fire while the breast is waved as a wave offering; this goes to Aaron and his sons.  The thigh shall be a gift to the priest; it is a heave offering.

Chapter 8
The Torah now introduces the complex ritual of consecrating the priests. They were washed and dressed in their ceremonial vestments, as the Lord commanded. Anointing oil was applied to the altar, the Tabernacle, the laver and all the utensils to dedicate them; oil was also poured over the head of Aaron and his sons to sanctify them as priests. A bull was brought forward for slaughter as the sacrificial ritual prescribed. A ram was offered and burnt ceremonially. A second ram was offered and its blood was applied to the ridges of their right ears, their right thumbs and on the big toe of their right foot. The fat parts of the ram together with unleavened bread oil bread was placed on the right thigh of the ram; was handed to Aaron and his sons to be waved as a wave offering, before turning it into smoke on the altar.
Moses also took some of the blood and some of anointing oil and sprinkled it on the ceremonial clothing of Aaron and his sons to consecrate them. Aaron was to then boil the sacrificial flesh and eat it with the bread of ordination as commanded, and this shall be continued for seven days, which corresponds to the period of ordination.

Spiritual insights into Parashat Tzav                        return to top of page
In Parashat Tsav, God explains to Moses the rules and rituals of each of the sacrificesthe burnt offering, the most holy, through the sacrifice of well-being or thanksgiving. Except for the burnt offering, the others whether from the herd or from the flock, from a bird or from unleavened bread, is to remain with the priest to be eaten; it is their source of sustenance. The Parashat spells out the rules of what parts of the offering may or may not be eaten. Now an entirely new element is introduced into the dialogue, one not previously offered the concept of clean and unclean is introduced.

As the Book of Leviticus progresses, further distinctions of cleanness will be considered. In the meantime, the Torah is saying that anything or anyone who touches anything unclean is impure and may not partake of the holy sacrifice. The symbolism of cleanness is that of purity. This notion has enormous spiritual significance. In as much as the Torah is talking about food or people that may be unclean, we can be unclean in our personal inner life, our thoughts, behaviors and emotions, and as a result, be unable to experience the light of God. It is obscured by uncleanness, like a pond that is muddied so that we cannot see the bottom. 

Key Verses                         return to top of page
This page is not a commentary on the text, but a chance for you to express your own comments and feelings in order to gain deeper insight into your own life.

Leviticus 6:6
A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.
Food for thought:
1. Which ritual do we maintain today that reminds us of this verse?
2. What do you think the fire on the altar represents and why would God want it to burn eternally?
3. What do you think is the  spiritual value of all of these rites and rituals regarding sacrifice?

Leviticus 6:9
What is left of it [the meal offering] shall be eaten by Aaron and his sons; it shall be eaten as unleavened cakes, in the sacred precinct; they shall eat it in the enclosure of the Tent of Meeting.
Food for thought:
1. Food seems to play a large role in the sacrificial rituals. What makes food holy?
2. Why must this food be eaten in the sacred precinct?
3. What is it about this food that only Aaron and his sons may partake of it?

Leviticus 6:11
Only the males among Aaron’s descendants may eat of it, as their due for all time throughout the ages from the Lord’s offering by fire. Anything that touches these shall become holy.
Food for thought:
1. Why only the males of Aaron’s descendants?
2. Why would something become holy by merely touching the food allocated to the priestly class?
3. What is it about this food that makes it so special?

Leviticus 7:12
If he offers it for thanksgiving, he shall offer together with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes with oil mixed in, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of choice flour with oil mixed in, well soaked.
Food for thought:
1. Besides an offering for thanksgiving, how many other types of sacrifice can you think of?
2. An animal sacrifice follows the thanksgiving meal offering. What do you think Judaism would be like today if we were still sacrificing animals at the Temple?
3. How do you think that slaughtering an animal affects forgiveness from God?

Leviticus 7:16
If, however the sacrifice he offers is a votive or freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day he offers his sacrifice and what is left of it shall be eaten on the morrow.
Food for thought:
1. Why would someone offer a sacrifice for no apparent reason at all? Would you?
2. Sacrifice represents the principal form of worship in the days of the Temple. What in your mind is the connection between sacrifice and worship?
3. Some sacrifices had to be consumed on the same day. Others could be finished the next day or even several days later. What does the time of consumption have to do with purpose of the sacrifice?

Leviticus 8:22
He brought forward the second ram, the ram of ordination.  Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the ram's head, and it was slaughtered.
Food for thought:
1. The Hebrew word for ordination is s'micha. In what context is s'micha used today?
2. Who gets ordained today?
3. What happens when hands are laid on someone or something?

Leviticus 8:15
Moses took the blood and with his finger put some on each of the horns of the altar, cleansing the altar; then he poured out the blood at the base of the altar. Thus he consecrated it and purged it.
Food for thought:
1. Does this verse help you to understand the purpose of the horns, from previous chapters?
2. In what ways does blood consecrate and purge?
3. What is the meaning and purpose of blood according to the Torah? Why does blood hold such prominence?

Leviticus 8:30
And Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it upon Aaron and upon his vestments, and also upon his sons and upon their vestments. thus he consecrated Aaron and his vestments, and also his sons and their vestments.
Food for thought:
1. How would you explain the use of blood and oil to consecrate ceremonial clothing?
2. What qualities does blood have that it might consecrate objects, like clothing?
3. What does the anointing oil do? What does anointing actually mean?

Additional questions to ponder:
1. What is it about the story, a verse, a word that seems to resonate with some aspect of your life?
2. Is there something about the story that rings a bell?
3. Can you recall experiences in your life when you have experienced something similar to this story?
4. How would you describe the characters in the story? Who do you know who's like them?
5. Can you personally identify with any one of the characters in the story? Which one?
6. Can you find a similarity between yourself and all the characters in the story?

Reflections:
The Rabbis of old would meditate on such questions, sometimes for weeks at a time, to help find deeper meaning in the verses. You may wish to contemplate just one or a few of these questions at a time, rather than tackling them all.
In what ways we any of your responses to the questions personally meaningful?

Suggestion:
Some of the questions here are of a personal nature which in some cases could be emotionally upsetting. If so, try relaxing your body as much as possible and takes long slow breaths of air. That usually helps to relieve anxiety.

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Creative Midrash on Parashat Tzav                         return to top of page
 
Leviticus 7:19
Flesh that touches anything unclean shall not be eaten; it shall be consumed in fire. As for other flesh, only he who is clean may eat such flesh.

The Rabbis of old would create parables, stories and narrative connections around such selected verses. What do you see between the lines, the sentences and the letters. The following questions can provide a launch pad upon which to create your own meanings of the Torah.

In this verse, the Torah introduces the notion between clean and unclean. What makes things clean or unclean? What makes flesh clean? What makes it unclean? What makes a person clean or unclean? Is cleanness the same as cleanliness? Why would the Torah differentiate between clean and unclean? Are people naturally clean, and if so, what must they do to become unclean? Do you think clean means something spiritual rather that physical? Do you think clean has anything to do with being holy? Do you think these laws have any meaning in today's day and age? In what ways do we observe the difference between clean and unclean today?
 

Spend some time thinking about these questions. After you mentally process them for a day or two, it could be helpful to record your conclusions in a journal. It's not important to have correct answers; it's more important to wrestle with the narrative. In time this process can teach you to change many of your unproductive thoughts and beliefs for new ones that work more effectively.