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Parsha Tsav

The Parsha talks all about sacrifice. Why does the Torah spend to much time and give so much detail of the Laws of Sacrifices, especially now that there’s no Temple? How is this relevant ? It’s written: (Behold, hear from sacrifice) (1S 15:22).We all are a Sanctuary for the Divine Presence as the verse says: “Make me a Sanctuary and I shall dwell within them” (Ex 25:8; Terumah). By learning how to bring the sacrifices, as the verse says we will “hear”, we will be able to hear Divine truth.

When God  killed the Firstborn of the Egyptians on Shabot Hagadol  skipped over the Jewish homes. The Egyptians wanted to war wage war. The Egyptian   prepared their swords, and were ready to annihilate the Jewish people. But God made all the Egyptian warriors sick, and mute! They could not do anything or say anything to His people, nor where they able to untie their god from the bedposts! The frightened Egyptian Firstborn begged their fathers and Pharoah to free the Jew slaves, but the Pharoah and their fathers did not heed the Firstborns’ request. The Firstborns started a civil war, and many Egyptians died in that civil war. This is why Shabbat HaGadol is such a the big deal. This Shabbat, has in it the massive power needed to generate the Final Redemption, may Hashem help us achieve it  !

  During times when sacrifices were offered sin never clung to Yisrael as these offerings made atonement for them.1 Rabbi Yose teaches concerning the twelve properties of the Torah that inequity can be purged even without sacrifices of flesh but with words of Torah. Even if punishment is already decreed against one, it can be annulled. Words of Torah can purify those who are unclean. He who studies Torah is first purified and then sanctified. 2 Now Torah is from Z’a (Source of Ruach-Emotional Soul), but with complete self sacrifice one can taste the Torah of the future. This is the Torah of “Atik” (The ancient of Days source of Delight) or “aor ganuz” (hidden light). This is acquired by one who never prays for his personal benefit, it is as if he is not part of this world.3 Fire is Binna (Divine Understanding). The Torah is spice against the “Yetzer Hora” (evil inclination). Through being occupied in Torah, which is called Bina. Bina is the source of Givurot. “Dinim” (judgments) are only sweetened in their source being in the Torah. This is by including the left in the right, making טוב (good). This is as Avraham’s sacrifice at “batara”. Which is the future slaughtering of the “Yetzer Hora”. Separating it from us. By cleaving oneself in the light of the Eyn Sof that flows from the letters of the Torah. There goes in judgments to their source. They are corrected in their source in the Torah.4 Malchut of Atzilut is called fire. Fire is Atzilut. But since we are in “galut” this fire does not have to power to burn up the “sitra achra” (other side). It is only strong enough to guard “kidusha” (holiness). It is in Rachamim (Mercy) that we are able to stand in this fire of Holiness. In the future it will be this fire which will destroy the wicked, and it is this fire that will build the 3rd Temple. This fire is the כבוד (Glory) of the Shechinah, by it we are sustained. It is יאהדונה”י. When this light stands on ones head all lights shine on it. יאהדונה”י makes all אחד (one). The “ו “ in the middle is the hand of God, which is between 2 “ י “ . By “yichud” the Shechina (Divine Presence) rises to the Ayn Soff (infinateness) and decends to את .5

Like a sacrifice, Torah is offered as a gift to God. He is at his own table.6 The sages teach in the Talmud that at one time, the sacrificial altar atoned for Israel. Now one’s table, through the spiritual elevation of his food, accomplishes it.7 We learn from Rabbenu Bachyah that once a person con­fesses his sins to God, no angel is permitted to harm him. Confession atones for the wicked; once they accept the judgment, they merit life in Olam HaBa. The words of confes­sion stand in the place of sacrifice. Thus, to avoid grievous Judgment one must confess even for inadvertent sins, as these require a guilt offering. Many have been saved from death by confession. 8 The main greatness of the Divine Name is through wealth. All this is decided by the כסא (thrown) and משפט (judgment). Dont take benefit of a mitzvah before it is complete (dont create a incomplete mitzvah or lacking compared to what you are capable of). This is as if a Cohen were to eat from a sacrifice before he had completed his required Divine service with it. Do the mitzvoth (commandment-attachment) in a way of כבוד (honor) due to the Holy king. Don’t enter into doing the Mitzvot in a light headed way. By comprehension of the mitzvot one comes to be careful with their fulfillment as then they understand that the mitzvot involve Holiness. Then they will do them with all their power, cherishing and guarding their kidusha. But if one enters to fulfill mitzvot with arrogance or not in a serious way they will not comprehend in truth “hashgacha” (divine providence), or see the way of the Mitzvot.9

In Talmud Bavli Chulin 17b it says that “chulin” (secular meat) was prohibited in the desert because all of the Israelites were relatively close to the “Mishkan” as the encampment was but three “parsoh” square, approximately 9 miles square.So inorder to eat meat while in the desert they had to bring animals to the “Mishcon” to eat them.

    These are the methods of refinement of the Souls in the time the Holy Temple is Standing and may it be rebuilt quickly in our days !

The sacrifice “korban Olah” (Burnt Offering) is completely burnt on the altar.

The “korban Todah”  (Thanksgiving Offering) is brought to recognize the gratitude one owes God and could be brought when recovering from a illness of from crossing the sea or for other reasons of thanks giving.

The “Korban Chatat”  ( Sin Offering) is brought for a sin one did accidentally or was unaware that such a act was a transgression when they did it.

A ” Korban Asham (Guilt Offering) are brought for guilt over possible transgression. One thinks they may have sinned but are not sure. For this one could bring a “Asham”. A guilt offering is brought if one uses Holy things for their own secular use, misappropriation of the Holy. There were many other reasons also for bringing a “Asham”,

The “korban  shlamim” (peace offering) the midrash explains “Great is the Peace offering as they bring peace between Israel and their Father in Heaven.” (Tanchuma Tzav, 10). One could bring this “free will offering” for any purpose when one so desired.

In Eretz Yisroel, God does not burden them to travel great distances to the Bet Hamikdash to have their animals slaughtered as sacrifices. He therefore allowed them to slaughter non-sacrificial animals at there homes and eat them there