Torah Sparks
Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36
This Torah portion continues the discussion about sacrifices that was started last week, with the beginning of the book of Leviticus. Last week the discussion centered on describing the various types of sacrifices that a person might bring. The variety of sacrifices reflected the many types of reasons that a sacrifice might be offered: Was it voluntary or compulsory? Was it motivated out of gratitude or guilt? Was it on behalf of an individual or the entire community? And so on.
This portion turns to the priests who are charged with implementing the sacrificial rituals on behalf of the people of Israel. While the common Israelite would bring her sacrifice to the entrance of the mishkan, the sacred shrine, only the priest could offer the sacrifices on the altar and discharge all the details of each offering.
So every Israelite who came to the sanctuary with an offering, whether in joy or in sadness, came with a great desire to draw closer to God. This is, after all, the meaning of the Hebrew word for sacrifice – qorban – that which draws closer. But, besides placing his faith in God, the Israelite was also utterly dependent on the priest to make sure that her offering was fulfilled properly. The Israelite and the priest had to enjoy a sacred bond of trust.
Therefore the portion opens with God telling Moses: “Tzav – command Aaron and his sons.” (Lev. 6:2) The sages noted that the usual formula would have been “Speak to Aaron and his sons.” Why was the extra emphatic “tzav” used? They answered that the priests needed extra encouragement and exhortation to meet their obligations regarding the sacrificial system. The priests seemed to enjoy a position of great privilege and power. Only they could officiate at these rituals. It would, therefore, be tempting for them to see their role as granting them extra entitlements. They would then have been tempted to engage in their jobs only to the extent that their positions were enhanced or their interests promoted thereby.
So this charge to them is spoken right at the beginning, and specifically regarding the `olah sacrifice, an offering that was burnt completely on the altar, with no material benefit to be derived from it. (The priests benefited from portions of the other sacrifices.) In fact, the only part the priest played was in the messy cleanup of the ashes afterwards.
Yet, this sacrifice expressed the desire of the common Israelite to give total service to God. The priest’s challenge was to be the faithful servant of that sacred impulse, at no advantage to himself.
We no longer have a sacrificial service with priestly prerogatives and obligations. But God told us that we are all part of a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Ex. 19:6) We are all called upon to act as priests some time or other when we are called upon to assist another person who depends utterly on our help. We are all called to hear the “tzav” – the order – to step up selflessly on behalf of another person in need. As the sages said, “This charge is for now and for the ages.”
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi David Greenstein
Image: “we are the world” by Leo Grübler 
used with permission via Creative Commons: Attribution-NoDerivs License
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