Parashat Tzav 5784

by Rabbi Margie Cella

This second parashah of Leviticus continues to define seven different types of offerings that one could bring. For each one we learn what was offered and by whom, what motivated the sacrifice, what was eaten by the individual, what was eaten by the priests. The people are strongly warned not to eat the blood or the fat of any sacrifice. Doing so would cause them to be cut off from the nation because the blood contains the life, and the fat was reserved for burning, allowing its pleasant aroma to reach up to God.

Finally, Moses is instructed to bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting to anoint them to the priesthood in the presence of all the people. Carefully and methodically, he places each of the priestly garments on his brother and then his nephews and anoints the head of each with oil. How awesome it must have been to witness this event. The final step was to offer a bull and two rams as a burnt offering. Each of the newly anointed priests placed his hands on the animal’s head, acknowledging that he himself needed to atone for his own sins before he could take on the responsibility of atoning for others. In so doing, they served as an example to us all. Before accusing someone of wrongdoing, we must be willing to honestly examine our own behavior, for none of us is blameless. Becoming a people holy to God requires each of us to perfect our own character so that we can better work together to improve the world around us. Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh – All the people of Israel are responsible for one another.