Friday, March 22, 2019

Tzav #2

1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: That is the burnt offering which burns on the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall burn with it.
(Leviticus 6:1-2)
 בצַ֤ו אֶת־אַֽהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר זֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הָֽעֹלָ֑ה הִ֣וא הָֽעֹלָ֡ה עַל֩ מוֹ
The parsha this week is tzav, literally meaning command. This parsha is about HaShem commanding us to serve him through korbanot. But tzav can also mean connect. These different meanings teach us that through HaShem’s commandments, and through serving Him, we also find ways to connect with him. 

The Lubavitcher Rebbe teaches us that there is still that Tzav- connection, even if someone does not follow all of the 613 mitzvot. The sages teach “even though he sinned, he is a Jew.” Of course we want to serve our role by following these mitzvot, and have a bigger connection because of it.

What other meanings does the word Tzav have? What do those meanings teach us? Why is it placed at the beginning of the parsha? 

6 comments:

  1. Miriam Hoffmann

    Whenever the word Tzav is used it represents a commandment that needs to be performed eagerness and enthusiasm, it should not be delayed. It is also meant to be applied indefinitely not only for a certain period of time.

    I think this answer. It just explains the use of the word tzav so we have a better understanding of whats happening.

    this is the opinion of the Chizkuni

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  2. Nealy:
    Similar to Rashi, rabbi shimon said that the word tzav is espically to give encourgement in cases of monetary loss. - nealy saks

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  3. Rashi says "The expression tzav (“command”) implies an urging for now and for future generations."

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  4. The Ohr HaChaim says that the expression צו is always one which indicates a sense of importance on covering both the present and future generations. He believes the meaning of "future generations" is that the commandment does not merely involve a one-time contribution ex: such as the materials for the Beit Hamikdash.
    I like this interpretation of the word because it shows that its important for future generations to know to participate and not only do things once.
    -Meira Book

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  5. Rashi says that Tzav is related to the word Mitzvah, and therefore connotes to a sense of quick and immediate actions. Rashi compares it to when the Torah commands us to “ Guard the Matzot,” connoting to a sense of urgency to guard the Matzot as quick as possible so they doesn’t become Chametz. The word Matzot could be replaced with Mitzvot, which would create the idea that when the opportunity arises, a person should preform a mitzvah as quickly as possible. I think the whole idea of doing Mitzvot immeditely is nice because it shows that Mitzvot should be a top priority.
    Source: Aish.com

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