Tzav - Day #3

Tzav צַו - Command!  

Torah Portion: Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Leviticus 7:11–38

7:11 “‘This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which one shall offer to Hashem: 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mixed with oil. 13 He shall offer his offering with the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving with cakes of leavened bread. 14 Of it, he shall offer one out of each offering for a heave offering to Hashem. It shall be the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. 15 The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning.

16 “‘But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a free will offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice. On the next day, what remains of it shall be eaten, 17 but what remains of the meat of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire. 18 If any of the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted, and it shall not be credited to him who offers it. It will be an abomination, and the soul who eats any of it will bear his iniquity.

19 “‘The meat that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. As for the meat, everyone who is clean may eat it; 20 but the soul who eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings that belongs to Hashem, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from his people. 21 When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to Hashem, that soul shall be cut off from his people.’”

22 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘You shall eat no fat, of bull, or sheep, or goat. 24 The fat of that which dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of animals, may be used for any other service, but you shall in no way eat of it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal which men offer as an offering made by fire to Hashem, even the soul who eats it shall be cut off from his people. 26 You shall not eat any blood, whether it is of bird or of animal, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whoever it is who eats any blood, that soul shall be cut off from his people.’”

28 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 29 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Hashem shall bring his offering to Hashem out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 With his own hands, he shall bring the offerings of Hashem made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Hashem. 31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. 32 The right thigh you shall give to the priest for a heave offering out of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. 33 He among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion. 34 For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel.’”

35 This is the consecrated portion of Aaron, and the consecrated portion of his sons, out of the offerings of Hashem made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister to Hashem in the priest’s office; 36 which Hashem commanded to be given to them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them. It is their portion forever throughout their generations. 37 This is the law of the burnt offering, the meal offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, the consecration, and the sacrifice of peace offerings 38 which Hashem commanded Moses in Mount Sinai in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their offerings to Hashem in the wilderness of Sinai.

Today’s Meditation:

In today’s reading, we have specific instructions on consuming the offering meat after it has been offered and burned. In some cases, the person making the offering has the meat to eat (verses 11-15), and in other cases, the priests are entitled to it. What I find most valuable is that Hashem is not letting any of the offerings go to waste. Maybe you weren’t planning on giving up a useful animal until you realized you sinned. However, after you're commanded to do so, you can keep the cooked meat for up to two days. It seems pretty generous of Hashem to offer this back to you.

Today’s Challenge:

There are five offerings listed in this recent reading in Leviticus. They can be hard to understand because most of us do not live in a Jewish community where these offerings are made (and because there is currently no Temple in Jerusalem to offer them). So, the best we can do is research and learn. Today, I ask you to delve into the heart of this matter. We discussed yesterday that the central purpose of giving offerings was to draw closer to Hashem. We know this, that sins separate us from communing with Hashem. An offering of repentance and worship brings us back to Him. Just like in Temple times, you could bring an animal or meal offering; now you can bring a worship, prayer, or mitzvah offering to Hashem.

Tzav - Day #2

Tzav צַו - Command!  

Torah Portion: Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Leviticus 6:12–7:10

6:12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning. He shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. 13 Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.

14 “‘This is the law of the meal offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before Hashem, before the altar. 15 He shall take from there his handful of the fine flour of the meal offering, and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the meal offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma, as its memorial portion, to Hashem. 16 That which is left of it, Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They shall eat it in the court of the Tent of Meeting. 17 It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of My offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as are the sin offering and the trespass offering. 18 Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Hashem made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy.’”

19 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 20 “This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to Hashem in the day when he is anointed: one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening. 21 It shall be made with oil in a griddle. When it is soaked, you shall bring it in. You shall offer the meal offering in baked pieces for a pleasant aroma to Hashem. 22 The anointed priest who will be in his place from among his sons shall offer it. By a statute forever, it shall be wholly burned to Hashem. 23 Every meal offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten.”

24 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 25 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the sin offering: in the place where the burnt offering is killed, the sin offering shall be killed before Hashem. It is most holy. 26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the Tent of Meeting. 27 Whatever shall touch its flesh shall be holy. When there is any of its blood sprinkled on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in a holy place. 28 But the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; and if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, it shall be scoured and rinsed in water. 29 Every male among the priests shall eat of it. It is most holy. 30 No sin offering, of which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be eaten. It shall be burned with fire.

7:1 “‘This is the law of the trespass offering: It is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering, he shall kill the trespass offering; and its blood he shall sprinkle around on the altar. 3 He shall offer all of its fat: the fat tail, and the fat that covers the innards, 4 and he shall take away the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys; 5 and the priest shall burn them on the altar for an offering made by fire to Hashem: it is a trespass offering. 6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.

7 “‘As is the sin offering, so is the trespass offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with them shall have it. 8 The priest who offers any man’s burnt offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered. 9 Every meal offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is prepared in the pan and on the griddle, shall be the priest’s who offers it. 10 Every meal offering, mixed with oil or dry, belongs to all the sons of Aaron, one as well as another.

Today’s Meditation:

Hashem is laying out His instructions for the different types of offerings. On the Jewish Virtual Library website, you can read an informative article on sacrifices. They suggest three reasons people offered. First, because people need to give to Hashem, they bring the offering to the one Holy God. Secondly, it is a sacrifice they must offer and a kind of retribution for their sin. As we have discussed before, when you have to give up something important because you did something wrong, you will learn a great lesson. And lastly, because the offering brings one closer to Hashem. In fact, that is the whole reason for the offering: to draw close.

Today’s Challenge:

“Karbanot” (offering) means to draw near. Today’s challenge is to think about how you are drawing near to Hashem. What brings you closer to Him? Is it when you do a mitzvah, or a good deed? Is it when you worship, pray, or talk to Hashem in your special time? For me, I know when I worship or listen to songs that extol Hashem that it seems to move my spirit to be close to Him. Or sometimes, when I see an answered prayer or even a miracle, it makes me acutely aware that He is near. The whole point is to find something that draws you closer to Him. When Hashem is involved in our daily lives, we live better. We need to be shining lights of His love, sharing it with others. We can only do that by a Karbanot.

Tzav - Day #1

Tzav צַו - Command!  

Torah Portion: Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Leviticus 6:1–11

6:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “If anyone sins, and commits a trespass against Hashem, and deals falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or has oppressed his neighbor, 3 or has found that which was lost, and lied about it, and swearing to a lie—in any of these things that a man sins in his actions— 4 then it shall be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or any thing about which he has sworn falsely: he shall restore it in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. He shall return it to him to whom it belongs in the day of his being found guilty. 6 He shall bring his trespass offering to Hashem: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest. 7 The priest shall make atonement for him before Hashem, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does to become guilty.”

8 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: the burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. 10 The priest shall put on his linen garment, and he shall put on his linen trousers upon his body; and he shall remove the ashes from where the fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. 11 He shall take off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

Today’s Meditation:

When we are dishonest with others, we are to restore what was taken and add a fifth. It's all about restoration and making things right (verses 4-5). This is what repairs the world we live in: restoration. Examine your life and see whether you owe anyone anything or have oppressed anyone. Then take care of it, restore what was taken, and give extra. Imagine if we all did this, what a changed world we would live in.

Today’s Challenge:

Along with making things right with those you have offended, you are to bring an offering to Hashem. That offering in today’s time could be praise, worship, repentance, and a gift to support Israel. Again, take a look at your life and see what Hashem shows you. Take care of it soon, no matter how hard it may seem. Let’s change the world together. 

Yayikra - Day #7

Vayikra  וַיִּקְרָא - And He Called  

Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1-5:26

Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23

Shabbat: Leviticus 5:11–26

5:11 “‘But if he can’t afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for that in which he has sinned, one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, and he shall not put any frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as the memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, on the offerings of Hashem made by fire. It is a sin offering. 13 The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he will be forgiven; and the rest shall be the priest’s, as the meal offering.’”

14 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 15 “If anyone commits a trespass, and sins unwittingly regarding Hashem’s holy things, then he shall bring his trespass offering to Hashem: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your estimation in silver by shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering. 16 He shall make restitution for that which he has done wrong regarding the holy thing, and shall add a fifth part to it, and give it to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and he will be forgiven.

17 “If anyone sins, doing any of the things which Hashem has commanded not to be done, though he didn’t know it, he is still guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. 18 He shall bring a ram without defect from of the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing in which he sinned and didn’t know it, and he will be forgiven. 19 It is a trespass offering. He is certainly guilty before Hashem.”

Today’s Meditation:

The offerings are not only for those who can afford it, but for those who cannot (verse 11). What a compassionate Elohim we serve, that he cares equally for the poor. We see this repeated numerous times in the Torah. If He cares for the poor, then so should we. If you are not already supporting people in your community who need help, consider starting today. There are always food banks, local overnight shelters, and places that need volunteers and financial aid. Let us not overlook those who need us.

Today’s Challenge:

Can we sin without knowing it? Absolutely. In verse 17, we are told of an offering that addresses this. Even the sins we are unaware of, Hashem forgives. Today, I challenge you to take an inventory of your life. Take a moment to reflect on your daily routine and the people in your life. Examine the things you do and say. If nothing is evident that you have sinned, still take a moment to go before Hashem and ask for His forgiveness for the sins in your life that you are unaware of. It would be good to seek His forgiveness and repent.

This Week’s Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23

43:21 The people which I formed for Myself,

    that they might declare My praise.

22 Yet you have not called on Me, Jacob;

    but you have been weary of Me, Israel.

23 You have not brought Me any of your sheep for burnt offerings,

    neither have you honored Me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with offerings,

    nor wearied you with frankincense.

24 You have bought Me no sweet cane with money,

nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices,

but you have burdened Me with your sins.

    You have wearied Me with your iniquities.

25 I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;

    and I will not remember your sins.

26 Put Me in remembrance.

    Let us plead together.

Declare your case,

    that you may be justified.

27 Your first father sinned,

    and your teachers have transgressed against Me.

28 Therefore, I will profane the princes of the sanctuary;

    and I will make Jacob a curse,

    and Israel an insult.”

44 Yet listen now, Jacob My servant,

    and Israel, whom I have chosen.

2 This is what Hashem, who made you,

    and formed you from the womb,

    who will help you says:

“Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant;

    and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,

    and streams on the dry ground.

I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,

    and My blessing on your offspring:

4 and they will spring up among the grass,

    as willows by the watercourses.

5 One will say, ‘I am Hashem’s;’

    and another will be called by the name of Jacob;

    and another will write with his hand ‘to Hashem,’

    and honor the name of Israel.”

6 This is what Hashem, the King of Israel,

    and his Redeemer, Hashem of Armies, says:

“I am the first, and I am the last;

    and besides Me there is no Elohim.

7 Who is like Me?

    Who will call,

    and will declare it,

    and set it in order for Me,

    since I established the ancient people?

Let them declare the things that are coming,

    and that will happen.

8 Don’t fear,

    neither be afraid.

Haven’t I declared it to you long ago,

    and shown it?

You are My witnesses.

    Is there an Elohim besides Me?

Indeed, there is not.

    I don’t know any other Rock.”

9 Everyone who makes a carved image is vain.

    The things that they delight in will not profit.

  Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.

10 Who has fashioned a god,

    or molds an image that is profitable for nothing?

11 Behold, all his fellows will be disappointed;

    and the workmen are mere men.

Let them all be gathered together.

    Let them stand up.

    They will fear.

    They will be put to shame together.

12 The blacksmith takes an ax,

    works in the coals,

    fashions it with hammers,

    and works it with his strong arm.

He is hungry,

    and his strength fails;

he drinks no water,

    and is faint.

13 The carpenter stretches out a line.

    He marks it out with a pencil.

    He shapes it with planes.

    He marks it out with compasses,

    and shapes it like the figure of a man,

    with the beauty of a man,

    to reside in a house.

14 He cuts down cedars for himself,

    and takes the cypress and the oak,

    and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest.

He plants a cypress tree,

    and the rain nourishes it.

15 Then it will be for a man to burn;

    and he takes some of it, and warms himself.

    Yes, he burns it and bakes bread.

Yes, he makes a god, and worships it;

    he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.

16 He burns part of it in the fire.

    With part of it, he eats meat.

    He roasts a roast and is satisfied.

Yes, he warms himself,

    and says, “Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire.”

17 The rest of it he makes into a god,

    even his engraved image.

He bows down to it and worships,

    and prays to it, and says, “Deliver me; for you are my god!”

18 They don’t know, neither do they consider:

    for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see;

    and their hearts, that they can’t understand.

19 No one thinks,

    neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,

    “I have burned part of it in the fire.

    Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals.

    I have roasted meat and eaten it.

  Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination?

    Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?”

20 He feeds on ashes.

    A deceived heart has turned him aside;

    and he can’t deliver his soul,

    nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”

21 Remember these things, Jacob and Israel;

    for you are My servant.

    I have formed you.

    You are My servant.

    Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.

22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions,

    and, as a cloud, your sins.

    Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

23 Sing, you heavens, for Hashem has done it!

    Shout, you lower parts of the earth!

    Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees,

    for Hashem has redeemed Jacob,

    and will glorify Himself in Israel.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

In verses 21 and 22, we see that Hashem has not forgotten His people; He has forgiven their transgressions and redeemed them. Hallelujah. What an incredible Elohim we serve. After centuries and multitudes of people looking after other gods, He is so willing to forgive and redeem. And that is what is happening right now. He knows we have been dispersed among the nations. We have been mixed in with the Gentiles who do not know Him. Yet, if we go to Him and repent, and seek His face, and follow His Commandments, He will forgive us and set us free.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

Once again, I challenge you to look around for the false “gods” that you serve. Whether it be money, a job, relationships, material things, boats, cars, or houses, reconsider following with a pure heart —the one true Elohim. Examine your life today. Look around at what is so important to you. And discover what is really important. Whom do you serve?