Parashat Tzav 5786

by Rabbi Margie Cella

In last week’s parashah, Vayikra, we learned of five different types of sacrifices. Moses was called by God to explain the details of each to the children of Israel (i.e., the people of the nation).

In this week’s parashah, Tzav, we read once again how each of the sacrifices was to be offered, what kind of animal was to be brought, whether it was burned entirely or some of it could be eaten. We wonder why we need to read all of this again. The difference is that now God instructs Moses to command the priests regarding their roles in presenting the sacrifices of the people. Here the last to be defined is the zevach shelamim, the peace offering. Since the word shelamim is in the plural form, it is said that whoever brings this sacrifice brings peace into the world. It is brought by two types of people: one who wishes to express gratitude to God for a life of peace and contentment, and one who wishes to be delivered from a difficult situation or a general sense of despair in order to attain a sense of peace and wellbeing. Both the person who is grateful for personal peace and the one who longs for personal peace bring such an offering.  One is thankful for feeling completeness in their relationship to God, and one longs to be able to feel that sense of completeness. Both bring the same offering.

We all find ourselves in one or the other of these situations at various times in our lives. Whether we experience gratitude or estrangement, God says that the sacrifice must be whole. We must be whole-hearted in pursuing peace—with God, with others, within ourselves.

Oseh Shalom, Maker of Peace, help us to be wholehearted in our pursuit of peace in our world.