Tzav - Reading #6

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #6 -  Leviticus 8:22–29

My Thoughts:

Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons. He places blood on their right ear, thumb of right hand and toe of right foot (verses 23-24).  What does that all signify? Some sages and scholars believe the ears represent what you listen to, the hand represents what you do and the toe where you walk. That would make sense. We have to be so careful in all that we do. Sometimes I think, “If Hashem were here would He approve of this?” That’s a good measuring line. Imagine His presence and check yourself if you are doing the “right” thing!

Challenge:

Moses is consecrating (“making holy”) Aaron and his sons to do the work of the sacrifices, offerings, etc. in the Tabernacle. We learn from studying Torah that Hashem is into cleanliness and order. The animals must not have defects and the priests must be clean and wear clean clothing. Our Elohim is Holy and Just. We must not bring anything dirty before Him. As it is today. I challenge you to make sure you are not “dirty” before Hashem. In all you do and say, make sure it is pleasing to Hashem. Pray that He will “convict” you to know when you are doing something wrong. And listen to Him. Life will be better. And remember eternal life is in the Commandments.

Reading #6 -   Leviticus 8:22–29

8:22 He presented the other ram, the ram of consecration. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 He killed it; and Moses took some of its blood, and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot. 24 He brought Aaron’s sons; and Moses put some of the blood on the tip of their right ear, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the great toe of their right foot; and Moses sprinkled the blood around on the altar. 25 He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat that was on the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh; 26 and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before Hashem, he took one unleavened cake, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat and on the right thigh. 27 He put all these in Aaron’s hands and in his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before Hashem. 28 Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were a consecration offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Hashem. 29 Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before Hashem. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration, as Hashem commanded Moses.

Tzav - Reading #5

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #5 - Leviticus 8:14–21

My Thoughts:

Verse 14 says they “laid hands” on the bull. Usually “laying hands” on something or someone means some sort of dedication or transference. Here it could be both. They are dedicating this great animal to Hashem and they are “transferring” the sins of the people onto this sacrifice. Sometimes when people pray for me or others - they “lay hands” on us. I believe what they are trying to do is “transfer” Hashem’s healing power, love and grace onto the person they are praying for. Just one word of caution -- do not just let anybody lay hands on you, be sure you know the person and you trust them. They are helping Elohim’s power and plan to reach you.

Challenge:

Again, we are learning Hashem’s specific rules for sacrifice. They are carefully laid out and nothing is to be missed when applying them. We need to look at the whole Torah this way. We are to follow things exactly and not with carelessness. Pay attention to the details and learn to study each Commandment. I encourage you as you read the giving of the Laws in Torah, that you see who they apply to your life today and how you can follow them carefully and exactly as you are able. Torah is life. Breathe it in and obey it.

Reading #5 - Leviticus 8:14–21

14 He brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15 He killed it; and Moses took the blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it. 16 He took all the fat that was on the innards, and the cover of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat; and Moses burned it on the altar. 17 But the bull, and its skin, and its meat, and its dung, he burned with fire outside the camp, as Hashem commanded Moses. 18 He presented the ram of the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19 He killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood around on the altar. 20 He cut the ram into its pieces; and Moses burned the head, and the pieces, and the fat. 21 He washed the innards and the legs with water; and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Hashem, as Hashem commanded Moses.

Tzav - Reading #4

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #4 -  Leviticus 8:1–13

My Thoughts:

Today it’s all about preparation. Hashem tells Moses to bring everyone to the Tent (Tabernacle) and get ready. Aaron and his sons need to get washed, dressed and ready. And everyone must meet there and get ready to sacrifice. This is going to be a big day as we will soon see. I believe Hashem is all about preparing. He is a Elohim of order and not of disorder. Just like we should be enacting in our lives. Order. It brings peace and prosperity because things get done! Try it today!

Challenge:

My challenge to you today is about getting ready to meet Hashem. We have talked about this in the past. But today I want to challenge you about clothing. Aaron and his sons have been dressed in their special tunics. What do we wear when we go before Hashem? You may think it is irrelevant, but is it? During your prayer time are you sitting in your old pajamas, ripped stained clothing or just not caring about what you're wearing? Maybe you are saying “Hashem doesn’t care what I look like!” Well, yes, He does accept us for who we are, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to be especially clean and nice when we come to Him. So, today when you enter your prayer time or study time, be neat and clean and dressed well. It is about respecting Hashem. And respecting Him in all areas of our life!

Reading #4 -  Leviticus 8:1–13

8:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; 3 and assemble all the congregation at the door of the Tent of Meeting.”

4 Moses did as Hashem commanded him; and the congregation was assembled at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 5 Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing which Hashem has commanded to be done.” 6 Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. 7 He put the tunic on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod on him and fastened it to him with it. 8 He placed the breastplate on him. He put the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate. 9 He set the turban on his head. He set the golden plate, the holy crown, on the front of the turban, as Hashem commanded Moses. 10 Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and sanctified them. 11 He sprinkled it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the basin and its base, to sanctify them. 12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. 13 Moses brought Aaron’s sons, and clothed them with tunics, and tied sashes on them, and put headbands on them, as Hashem commanded Moses.

Tzav - Reading #3

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #3 - Leviticus 7:11–38

My Thoughts:

In today’s reading we have certain 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 verses 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 valuable animal, until you realized you sinned. But, after you're commanded to do so, you are able to keep the cooked meat for two days. It seems pretty generous of Hashem to offer this back to you. Don’t you think?

Challenge:

There are five offerings listed in this recent reading in Leviticus. They can be a little hard to understand because most of us do not live in a Jewish community where these offerings are made (and because there currently is not a Temple in Jerusalem to offer them!). So, the best we can do is research and learn. Today I ask you to go to the “heart” of this all. We discussed yesterday about how the main aspect of giving the offerings was to draw closer to Hashem. We know this, that sins separates 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. Let’s remember that -- so we can stay close to Hashem every day!

Reading #3 - 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’s 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 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.

Tzav - Reading #2

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #2 -  Leviticus 6:12–7:10

My Thoughts:

Hashem is laying out His instructions for the different types of offerings. In the website -- “The Jewish Virtual Library”  -- you can read the most amazing article on sacrifices. They are suggesting 3 reasons why people gave offerings. First, because people need to give to Hashem. They are bringing the offering to the one Holy Elohim. Secondly, it is a sacrifice for them to give and a kind of retribution for their sin. Like 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. To read the entire article go to: Sacrifices and Offerings - Karbanot

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 small miracle, it makes me super aware that He is close. The whole point is, find something that draws you closer to Him. When Hashem is involved in our daily lives, we have better lives. We need to be shining “lights” of His love to share with others. We can only do that by “karbanot”.

Reading #2 -  Leviticus 6:12–7:10

2 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 that 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 “‘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.

Tzav - Reading #1

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #1 - Leviticus 6:1–11

My Thoughts:

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 if you owe anyone anything, or if you have “oppressed” anyone. Then take care of it and restore what was taken, plus extra. Imagine if we all did this what a changed world we would live in!

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 or difficult it may seem. Let’s change the world together. 

Reading #1 - 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.

Tzav - Week #2

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23

Matthew 9:10-17

1.1 First reading — Leviticus 6:1–11

1.2 Second reading — Leviticus 6:12–7:10

1.3 Third reading — Leviticus 7:11–38

1.4 Fourth reading — Leviticus 8:1–13

1.5 Fifth reading — Leviticus 8:14–21

1.6 Sixth reading — Leviticus 8:22–29

1.7 Seventh reading — Leviticus 8:30–36